Singapore: Three stars of the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) are back in Singapore this week to showcase their current status among the LPGA Tour’s elite players.
It was five years ago that Atthaya Thitikul, Yuko Saso and Patty Tavatanakit lit up the first edition of the WAAP.
Returning to the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course where they displayed their potential in 2018, the trio are seeking more glory over the next four days in the 15th staging of the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
It was on the Tanjong Course that Thai Atthaya won the WAAP as a 15-year-old, emerging victorious after a four-way play-off.
“I love Sentosa. It’s always in good condition and the course suits my eye. I have so many good memories here and am really looking forward to the week,” added Atthaya who is also looking to build on a memorable 2022.
After finishing fourth at Sentosa in last year’s HSBC Women’s World Championship, she secured 16 other top-10 finishes, two victories and was crowned 2022 LPGA Rookie of the Year.
She also briefly held the number one position in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking and is still acclimatising to being constantly in the limelight.
She said: “I feel the pressure, for sure. Obviously, when you are at the top of your game, everyone will be watching you and there’s going to be pressure. I achieved success really fast in my rookie year and the spotlight has been on me ever since.”
Atthaya will tee-off from the first hole at 9.13 am on Thursday alongside Canadian Brooke Henderson and Korean Ko Jin-young, the defending HSBC champion.
Three flights in front of Atthaya will be fellow-Thai Tavatanakit and Japan’s Saso, both of whom are now Major winners.
Saso, who was among those who lost out to Atthaya in the 2018 play-off, won the US Women’s Open in 2021.
That same year, Tavatanakit, who placed 15th in the inaugural WAAP, triumphed in the ANA Inspiration.
The latest appearances of Atthaya, Saso and Tavatanakit in Singapore is especially timely as it comes a week before the fifth edition of the WAAP at the Singapore Island Country Club.
Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), said: “It’s testament to the talent we have in our region that three of our players from the inaugural WAAP have gone on to achieve such success in the professional game.
“Their stories will act as an inspiration to all those who will be competing at SICC next week.”
Sentosa Golf Club and the Singapore Island Country Club are Facility Members of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.