In the lantern-lit city of Hoi An, it was Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong who shone brightest at the seventh Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship. The 20-year-old Pepperdine University junior made history as the first Malaysian winner of the region’s premier women’s amateur golf event.
Starting the final round with a three-shot advantage, the player nicknamed “Pocket Dynamite” delivered a masterful performance, carding a three-under-par 68 to complete her championship run. Wong’s four consecutive sub-70 rounds demonstrated remarkable consistency on the challenging links-style Hoiana Shores Golf Club.
The final round developed into an intense battle with Korean competitors Soomin Oh and Sumin Hong. With the pressure mounting and tied for the lead with just two holes remaining, Wong responded brilliantly at the par-3 17th. Her seven-iron tee shot nearly resulted in a hole-in-one, leaving a tap-in birdie that restored her one-stroke advantage.
At the par-5 closing hole, Oh reached the green in two, setting up an eagle opportunity from 35 feet. Wong, meanwhile, executed a precise 40-yard pitch to within four feet of the cup. After Oh’s eagle attempt narrowly missed, Wong confidently sank her birdie putt to secure the championship.
“It’s unreal. I’m in shock,” said Wong after being congratulated by her Malaysian teammates and Australian friends, a nod to her formative years in Melbourne where she moved at age ten.
Wong’s four-round total of 18-under-par 266 (65-69-64-68) established a new WAAP scoring record, bettering the previous mark of 270 set by Chinese Taipei’s Chun-wei Wu. Throughout the tournament, Wong accumulated 24 birdies against just four bogeys and one double-bogey.
Currently ranked 123rd in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Wong becomes the first non-teenager to win this prestigious title. Her victory grants her entries into three major championships in 2025 – the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, The Chevron Championship in Texas, and the Amundi Evian Championship in France.
“It’s really exciting, giving me the experience to play in those top LPGA tournaments that I want to play in the future,” Wong commented. Her name now joins previous champions including Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul and Eila Galitsky, Japan’s Yuka Yasuda and Mizuki Hashimoto, and Chinese Taipei’s Ting-Hsuan Huang and Chun-wei Wu.
Wong already boasts an impressive competitive resume, having played in the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2023. She reached the match play stages of The 120th Women’s Amateur, US Women’s Amateur, and US Girls’ Junior that same year. Her achievements also include victories in the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs (2022) and Australian Girls’ Amateur (2021, 2022), plus an individual bronze and team silver medal with Malaysia at the 2022 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
World Amateur Golf Ranking number nine Soomin Oh finished just one shot behind at 17-under-par 267, with her final-round 66 not quite enough to force a playoff. “I’m not going to lie, of course I’m a bit disappointed. But it doesn’t mean my game was disappointing. I played very well. I’m proud of my game and myself,” said the 16-year-old Korean.
Halfway leader Sumin Hong placed third at 15-under-par 269 after a late charge with birdies at 13, 14, and 16 brought her back into contention before finishing with consecutive pars.
Korea’s Yunseo Yang and Australia’s Jazy Roberts shared fourth place at 14-under-par 270, while China’s Ying Xu took sixth at 13-under-par 271. Vietnam’s top amateur Chuc An Le finished tied for 30th at 284, setting a new benchmark for Vietnamese players in this event.
Established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and The R&A to nurture regional talent, the WAAP provides its champion with exceptional opportunities. Along with invitations to three major championships, Wong gains entry to the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, The 122nd Women’s Amateur Championship, and traditionally, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
