A glance at the 2025 Women’s World Golf Rankings and LPGA Tour points list reveals the same name at the very top, one that has been on the lips of everyone who follows the women’s game closely.

Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul was the standout performer last year, cementing herself as the planet’s best women’s golfer after a stunning rise. Fittingly, her roots trace back to the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship (WAAP), whose eighth edition tees off at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand on Thursday.

Jeeno embodies the strength in depth of women’s golf across the Asia-Pacific. Seven players from the region sit inside the world’s top 10 and 30 feature among the top 50. The bubbly Thai has often hailed the WAAP as the launchpad for a burgeoning career that now includes seven LPGA victories. 

The 22-year-old Thai won the inaugural WAAP in Singapore in 2018 and finished runner-up in her title defense the following year. Now, a new generation of elite amateurs, including Indonesia’s 15-year-old Rhea Abigail, hopes to follow in her footsteps.

Like all aspiring teenaged golfers, Abigail is thrilled to get her first tee shot into the air at Royal Welington. 

“At first, I didn’t expect to receive an invitation from WAAP, but I’m extremely excited to participate in such a big tournament. This is an incredible opportunity and will surely be an amazing experience for me,” said Abigail, who is a two-time Indonesian National Junior champion.

“Honestly, I only recently realized how prestigious WAAP is. I’ve seen the players’ list and their rankings on the WAAP website […] they are all top-level players. I want to learn how to stay calm and play confidently.”

Hailing from the holiday isle of Bali, Abigail hopes to emulate or better fellow Balinese golfer Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri, who holds the honor of posting the best Indonesian finish to date in the WAAP following a tied 11^th finish in Dubai in 2021.

“I am really proud of Mela’s [Ida Ayu’s nickname] achievement. Seeing a Balinese golfer achieve the best result for Indonesia in such a prestigious event motivates me and boosts my confidence,” said Abigail, who holds five World Amateur Golf Ranking wins.

“I’m quite confident in myself. I think that receiving an invitation to such a prestigious event shows that my game is already good enough. But I also know I need to adapt to the weather, course conditions and the grass.”

Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong rewrote golf history at last year’s championship when she became the first player from the country to win the WAAP. Like many others, she was inspired by Jeeno’s rise in the game.

“Growing up, I followed the championship closely and always saw it as one of the biggest goals for an amateur golfer in this region. Just qualifying to play was once a dream, so winning, it felt surreal. It shows young girls that pathways exist and big dreams are achievable,” said Jeneath, who made golf history by becoming the first Malaysian to triumph last year.

“Players like Jeeno are incredibly inspiring. Seeing someone start their journey at the WAAP and go on to achieve so much at the professional level shows what’s possible. Her success motivates me to stay patient, work hard and trust the process as I continue developing my game. It’s reassuring to see a clear pathway from amateur golf in our region to success on the world stage.”

Jeneath, now in her final year at Pepperdine University in the United States, hailed the WAAP for providing elite amateurs with a clear route to the top, especially with the champion earning exemptions into several of the LPGA Tour’s leading major championships and elite amateur events.

“The WAAP has had a massive impact on women’s golf in Asia-Pacific by creating opportunities and visibility for young female golfers. Growing up, I followed the championship closely and always saw it as one of the biggest goals for an amateur golfer in this region,” she said.

South Korea’s Soomin Oh, the highest-ranked player in this week’s field at world No. 11 and touted as a golf phenom, will be looking to go one better after finishing second behind Jeneath in Vietnam last year. 

“My goal is to win. I was runner-up last year, so my desire is even stronger this time. But rather than getting greedy, I want to focus on gaining good experience and enjoying the championship,” said the 17-year-old, who is a two-time Queen Sirikit Cup winner and the 2024 World Amateur Junior Girls Champion.

A total of 84 players from 26 countries will contest the WAAP, 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.

As Jeeno’s success shows, the WAAP offers life-changing rewards. The winner earns exemptions into three major championships in 2026, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship, plus invitations to elite events including the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open, the Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

— The writer led communications for the PGA and Asian Tours for 25 years and now runs a sports PR consultancy.

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