All six Malaysian players successfully made it to the weekend of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) at Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand.

This is the first time that the entire Malaysian squad has made into the final two days of the prestigious championship.

Defending champion Mizuki Hashimoto holds the lead at nine-under par after a superb second round of six-under par 66. The Japanese scored seven birdies and one bogey to lead Korea’s Jiyoo Lim by one shot. In at third place on six-under-par is Chinese Taipei’s Ting-Hsuan Huang.

The best-placed Malaysian is first round leader Liyana Durisic, who carded a two-over par 74 for the day to lie T7 on four-under-par. With two bogeys and no birdies on her card, the 21-year-old struggled throughout the round to make putts.

“I wasn’t hitting and putting as good as yesterday. I continued to focus on my own goals, but it just wasn’t my day,” noted Durisic, who has played in all four editons of the championship.

The Iowa State University senior noted that she is going to stay committed to the same gameplan that scored her a 66 on the first round.

“It’s going to be focusing on hitting fairways, green in regulations and making two putts. If I make a birdie it’s a bonus,” she said.

Three Malaysians lie at T12 on two-under-par, namely Audrey Tan who is making her second WAAP appearance, and first-timers Warda Amira Rawof and Jeneath Wong.

Tan played two shots better than the opening round with a two-under-par 70. The University of North Texas senior made a couple of clutch par putts to keep the momentum going during the round.

“It was a slightly better round today with my putting coming in clutch. I’m hoping to hit it better and sink more putts for the next two days,” shared the 21-year-old.

Wong meanwhile scored a hole-in-one at the 113-yard par-three 7th hole en route to a 70. The Melbourne-based player was over the moon at her fourth career ace in her WAAP debut.

“I knew I hit a good shot but I wasn’t expecting the ball to go in. This hole-in-one is definitely going to be a memorable one for me,” commented Wong.

Warda, who is the oldest in the Malaysian squad at age 24, signed in an even-par 72 after she mixed one birdie and bogey.

20-year-old Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser, also making her debut, submitted a three-over par 75 for the day to lie at T22 on even-par. The Sam Houston State junior carded two double bogeys but managed a birdie on the 7th. 

The youngest Malaysian representative, Ng Jing Xuen, successfully made the cut in her maiden appearance after shooting a two-under par 70. The 14-year-old closed her round with two birdies, including a chip-in birdie on the 18th to make the weekend on the number at four-over-par.

“I was telling myself that it didn’t matter if I made the cut to make myself less tense compared to yesterday. I just wanted to enjoy myself out there,” said Ng.

“I was so relieved after that chip-in! I really pushed myself after looking at the leaderboard on the 16th, then told myself I could do it and it turned out quite well,” she added.

The best Malaysian performance is sixth place, achieved by the country's current top women's amateur Ashley Lau last year in Abu Dhabi.

The WAAP was developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage. The champion will earn starts in three majors, the AIG Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship, as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship and will receive an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur.

For more information, visit the championship website.

Round 2: Malaysian Scores & Rankings
T7 - 140 (-4) Liyana Durisic 66-74
T12 - 142 (-2) Warda Amira Rawof 70-72, Jeneath Wong 72-70, Audrey Tan 72-70
T22 - 144 (E) Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser 69-75
T45 - 148 (+4) Ng Jing Xuen 78-70