Team Malaysia will feature six players in this week’s fourth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP), which starts tomorrow at Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand.

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 victor of this event 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 (ANWA).

Jeneath Wong, the top-ranked Malaysian in the event at 70th spot on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), will be making her debut at the event. Joining her in making their first appearances are Ng Jing Xuen, Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser and Warda Amira Rawof. Making their second and fourth starts in the prestigious event respectively are Audrey Tan and Liyana Durisic.

Wong, who is based in Melbourne and recently won the Jack Newton International Junior Classic, noted that she hopes to put together a good performance at Siam Country Club's Waterside Course.

“I’m so thrilled to be here and the conditions out there are just so pure. It’s going to be an exciting week!” said the 18-year-old.

Ng, who has a string of local wins on home soil over the last few months, is also hoping to make an impact in her maiden WAAP appearance.

“The course is beautiful and it’s amazing to be joining this big event. I’m just going to focus on achieving my own mini goals and cope with the conditions, since it can get pretty windy out there,” shared the youngest representative on the team at just 14 years old.

Sam Houston State junior and WAGR No. 484 Zulaikah Nasser, who flew in after completing her final tournament of the fall collegiate season, is looking to take the tournament day by day.

“It’s already such an honour to be invited to this event, I’m just going to enjoy myself out there, play the course as it is and not do anything crazy,” said Zulaikah.

Also looking to go with the flow this week is Warda Amira, currently ranked 518 in the WAGR.

“I’m both nervous and excited for this week. The conditions and hospitality have so far exceeded my expectations and I’m just looking to card in some good scores,” said the 24-year-old.

US-based Durisic and Tan are both excited to be in Thailand and playing against the elite players from the region.

“I’ve been feeling more confident about my game after finishing the fall season on a good note with my team. Having the opportunity to be playing for the fourth year makes it sweeter, and I feel less pressure and more comfortable going into the week than I did the previous years,” said Durisic.

“While I don’t have any specific expectations, it’s always a goal for me to make the cut in a prestigious tournament like this one,” the Iowa State University senior added.

Tan, who scored herself a second runner-up finish at the Dale McNamara Invitational the previous month, said: “Personally I feel great after having a good stretch of golf coming in, though I'm a little tired and still fighting off jet lag. I'm going to take it one shot at a time out there and enjoy being somewhere that's close to home with my brother on the bag and my mom visiting.

“I've played this course twice as a junior; while I don't have too much recollection of it but I remember liking it. The course is very fun and has a lot of personality, and it's definitely a challenge with lots of course management needed this week,” shared Tan.

The Malaysian squad will be up against some of the world’s best amateurs, including world number four and reigning US Amateur champion Saki Baba of Japan, her team-mate Yuna Araki (WAGR No. 12) and Korea’s Jiyoo Lim who is the highest-ranked non-Japanese player at number 14. The local challenge will be led by Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, who is 36th on the WAGR.

Malaysia’s best finish at the WAAP is sixth, achieved by the country’s current number one women amateur Ashley Lau in last year’s WAAP at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

For more information, visit the championship website