WOMEN ON THE RISE

This month's Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Wellington continues the growth in the women's game.

- CHUAH CHOO CHIANG

The region's aspiring women amateur golfers, including Singapore’s Chen Xingtong, Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong and Vietnam’s Chuc An Le, do not need to look far for inspiration once they reach the crossroads on the timing to swing into the professional ranks.

A quick glance at the Women’s World Golf Ranking and LPGA Tour points list shows the same name at the very top, one that has been on the lips of many who follow the women’s game closely.

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand made 2025 a year to remember as she established herself as the best women golfer on the planet following a stunning career rise, whose roots can be traced back to the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific championship (WAAP).

The 22-year-old Jeeno, who is now World No. 1, was the inaugural champion of the region’s preeminent women’s amateur championship at Sentosa Golf Club in 2018, and finished runner-up in the following year in her title defence.

The bubbly Thai has often hailed the importance of the WAAP in providing the launchpad to her burgeoning career, which now includes seven LPGA victories, including three last year.

Now, the current crop of elite amateurs, such as Singapore's very own history-maker Chen Xingtong, is aiming to follow in Jeeno’s footsteps via the WAAP pathway.

As one of five Singaporean golfers joining the best young talent from Asia-Pacific for the eighth edition at Royal Wellington, New Zealand from 12-15 February, 2026, she will eye another slice of golf history after becoming the first Singaporean to qualify for the U.S. Girls Junior Championship final last July.