Pattaya: Huang Ting-hsuan bounced back from a slow start to win the 2022 Women's Amateur Asia Pacific (WAAP) championship and claim the first title for Taiwan at Siam Country Club in Thailand yesterday.
Facing up to the challenge from home favourite Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, the 17-year-old Huang made six birdies over the last 11 holes to post a three-under-par 69 for a winning total of 11-under-par 277. That was two shots better than the Thai star, who closed with a one-under-par 71, which included bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.
Korea's Lee Hyo-Song matched the best round of the day, a six-under-par 66, to climb up to tied third place at seven-under-par with Japan's Yuna Araki (69) and Philippine's Rianne Mikhaela Malixi (72).
Huang, who has notched up nine wins and 23 top-10 finishes in the last two years, is committed to UCLA next year and has secured places in two major championships -- the AIG Women's Open and the Amundi Evian Championship -- as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA).
"To be able to play in majors is really a dream come true for me. I'd like to thank The R&A and the APGC for giving us this opportunity," said Huang. "I did not have any expectations coming into this week. I just wanted to play good golf and enjoy myself on the golf course. To be able to do this is amazing."
The 19-year-old Natthakritta, who was also second in last year's championship in Abu Dhabi, was left disappointed with her finish and said, "I did my best today and my game was good. I think I lost the tournament because of myself and did not do well under pressure. I could feel that my swing was becoming very fast and aggressive.
"Huang is a tough competitor, and she is very good and I think I am going to learn a lot from this tournament," said Natthakritta, who will be playing the Stage 2 LPGA Qualifier in Florida.