Womens Amateur Asia-Pacific
Yunseo Yang savours runaway success at Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
15 Feb 26
7 mins
Yunseo Yang repelled the challenge of compatriot Soomin Oh to write her name into the record books as the first Korean winner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).
Coping admirably with gusting southerly winds that blew many players off course, 18-year-old Yang closed with a three-under-par 69 at Royal Wellington, the best round of a day that saw just three-sub-par returns. With a 72-hole aggregate of 16-under 272, Yang ended eight strokes clear of Oh, matching the WAAP’s record winning margin set by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda in 2019. She is also the first player to win the championship having held the solo lead after all four rounds. Thanks to her success, Yang has earned exemptions into three major championships in 2026 – the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, The Amundi Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States – as well as a handful of elite amateur events. In winning, Yang ended Korea’s victory drought in the region’s pre-eminent women’s amateur championship. Previously, Minsol Kim (2023), Hyosong Lee (2024) and Oh last year all had to settle for second place. After holing out in driving rain on the 18th green, Yang raised her arms in a rare show of emotion before being warmly embraced by Oh and their Korean team-mates.
Yunseo Yang poses with her mother after winning the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
Yang, who tied for fourth in last year’s WAAP in Vietnam, said: “I’m very proud to be the first Korean winner. Having the opportunity to play in three major championships is an honour. I grew up watching the other golfers do well, especially the AIG Women’s Open.”
Despite the conclusive final margin, victory was hard-earned for Yang, who began the week in 44th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR)®.
After holing a ten-foot putt to save par at the 13th and stay two shots ahead of Oh, it was the short par-4 14th which proved pivotal with a decisive four-shot swing in Yang’s favour.
While Yang holed a 12-foot putt for an eagle-two after driving the green, Oh ran-up a double-bogey six, pulling her tee shot out of bounds. From that point, with weather conditions deteriorating, Yang was able to coast home, adding gloss with her fourth birdie of the day at the short 16th.
Modest and composed – on and off the course – Yang laid the foundations for her triumph with a stunning opening-day bogey-free eight-under-par 64. It was a lead she would not squander. A 67 on day two extended her advantage at the half-way stage to three. An even-par 72 on Saturday meant she led by two going into the final day.
Of her final-round strategy, Yang said: “The bad weather today was anticipated. The winds started getting stronger from yesterday, so I was getting prepared for that. I was playing a bit defensively, not trying to be too aggressive, aiming for pars rather than birdies to protect my score.”
For Oh and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines it was a case of more WAAP heartbreak.
Oh, who had to settle for the runner-up spot for the second year in succession, reduced the overnight deficit to one with a scrambling par at the first hole and drew level when she made a birdie-two at the 8th hole.
But Yang’s two-stroke advantage was restored immediately when she holed a six-foot putt for birdie following a brilliant approach at the 9th hole while Oh made bogey.
Reflecting on another close WAAP call for her, Oh, the highest ranked player in the field at 11th in the WAGR®, said: “I had a great experience in New Zealand. It was a windy day. I have a lot of regrets, but I will use it as a driving force for my future growth.”
Soomin Oh had to settle for finishing as the runner-up for a second year in a row
Malixi tied for third with Australian Jazy Roberts on six-under-par 282. The 2024 US Women’s Amateur champion is the first player to have three top-five finishes to her name in the WAAP.
Malixi said: “The bad weather finally showed its teeth today. Even though I was far back heading into the last round, there’s always a chance. But I didn't capitalise, especially with how I was struggling with my putting. I never really gave myself a chance.
“This championship is a major for me. It’s always an honour to play in the WAAP. It sucks that I couldn’t get a win, but I’m looking forward to what’s in store with the upcoming season.”
Gyu Been Kim, who played alongside her compatriots Yang and Oh in the final group, fell out of contention with double-bogeys at the 7th and 9th holes. She signed off with an 81 and had to settle for joint ninth place on 286.
Jeneath Wong put up a staunch title defence, ending tied 16th on one-over-par 289. The Malaysian said: “I have a really special place for this championship and, as defending champion, I didn't put too much pressure on myself this week. With the winds being very gusty today, I thought it was a lot of fun.”
The distinction of finishing as leading New Zealander went to Darae Chung, who signed off with a 76, securing her 22nd place on five-over-par 293. That was one shot in front of top-ranked Kiwi Eunseo Choi and four ahead of Teresa Wang.
Chung said: “A lot of Kiwis made the cut this week so to be to be the top New Zealander is a great honour. I had a lot of fun today. It was a huge challenge with the wind.
“There were a lot of junior girls out there, and that was encouraging to see. It's really great we've been able to have this championship, especially for women's golf and the growth for young girls. I hope we were able to display some great golf for them to be inspired and start playing.”
The 2027 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific will be played at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course in Japan from 22-25 April.