Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Continuing a golden run of form, Hiroko Oga created a notable slice of golfing history by becoming the first winner of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.

The ever-smiling 52-year-old emerged triumphant after an engrossing three-day duel with Sue Wooster, who finished second individually but led Australia to victory in the women’s team event, ably supported by Nadene Gole and Jacqueline Morgan.

Australia’s men’s team also proved too strong for their rivals with the quartet of Greg Rhodes, Ken Brewer, Ian Frost and Mark Allen sweeping to a seven-stroke victory from Korea with Hong Kong pipping Singapore to third place at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, a Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

For good measure, 63-year-old Rhodes claimed the men’s individual title, a rock-solid closing one-over-par 73 giving him a winning 54-hole aggregate of 224 – three strokes ahead of runner-up Jimmy Aw, who was also runner-up in last week’s Singapore Open Senior Championship.

“It’s been a fabulous week. I’ll remember the course, the hospitality and the good people we were able to meet and play with,” said Rhodes, who also represented Australia the last time the championship was staged in 2019 at Sungai Long Golf & Country Club, also in the Malaysian capital.

For Oga it was her first visit to Malaysia. “I’ve loved it here,” said the number one ranked senior female in Japan, who won the Japan Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in the last week of October. She followed that up by capturing the Japan Women’s Senior Championship last week.

“Thank you to the APGC for introducing a Seniors Championship for women. Thanks also to the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) for making the championship such a success,” added Oga.

Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the APGC, said: “Congratulations to Hiroko and Greg. They are worthy champions who played throughout with smiles on their faces.

“We’re especially pleased to have launched our Senior Women’s Championship and look forward to seeing it growing and becoming an annual highlight on our calendar.

“The camaraderie among the players was exceptional this week and the support from the MGA and Kota Permai was outstanding.”