Yunseo Yang did not just win the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific in Wellington. She owned it from the opening tee shot to the final putt.
In brutal southerly winds and driving rain at Royal Wellington, the 18-year-old Korean delivered a masterclass in control and composure to become the first player from her country to lift the WAAP trophy, closing out an emphatic eight-shot victory.
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.”
Yang Claims First Korean Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Title
Wire-to-wire performance in brutal Wellington conditions
Yang signed off with a 3-under par 69 on Sunday, the lowest score on a punishing final day when only three players managed to break par. It completed a wire-to-wire performance that saw her hold the solo lead after every round of the championship, another first in WAAP history, and finish on 16-under par 272.
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.”
Record equalling eight-shot winning margin at Royal Wellington
Her margin of victory equalled the tournament record set by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda in 2019, but the raw numbers only hint at how complete the performance was. In conditions that repeatedly knocked balls offline and tested patience as much as technique, Yang never looked remotely unsettled.
Final Round Mastery Seals WAAP Championship
Defensive strategy pays off in wind and rain
Compatriot Soomin Oh mounted the closest challenge, briefly turning up the pressure early on Sunday. She trimmed the deficit to one with a scrambling par at the opening hole and drew level after a birdie at the par-4 eighth.
Any suggestion of a back nine duel disappeared swiftly.
Yang struck back immediately at the ninth, holing a six-foot birdie putt after a superb approach as Oh slipped back with a bogey. Two holes later came the moment that settled the championship.
Eagle at the 14th hole delivers decisive four-shot swing
At the short par-4 14th, Yang drove the green and calmly rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt. Oh, playing alongside her, pulled her tee shot out of bounds and stumbled to a double-bogey. In a matter of minutes, a four-shot swing blew the contest wide open.
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.”
From there, Yang coasted home with the assurance of a seasoned professional, even finding another birdie at the 16th as the weather continued to deteriorate. When her final putt dropped on the rain-soaked 18th green, she allowed herself a rare display of emotion, arms raised before being embraced by Oh and their Korean team mates.
WAAP Victory Opens Door to Major Championships
Yang earns starts at AIG Women’s Open Evian and Chevron
The victory carries deep significance. It ends a frustrating run of near misses for Korea in the region’s premier women’s amateur championship after runners up finishes by Minsol Kim, Hyosong Lee and Oh in recent editions. It also propels Yang onto the biggest stages in the women’s game.
As champion, she earns exemptions into three major championships in 2026: the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes, The Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship. She will also gain starts in a suite of elite amateur events, reinforcing the WAAP’s status as one of the most important pathways in global women’s golf.
With LPGA world ranking procedures evolving for 2026, the value of these starts is becoming even more significant; here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s changing and why.
Championship reinforces elite pathway for Asia Pacific amateurs
That pathway is no accident. The championship was developed by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation and The R&A to accelerate elite amateur talent from the region onto the international stage. Yang is now its latest and most compelling success story.
Her triumph was built on a blistering start. An opening-round bogey-free 64 immediately set the tone. A second-round 67 extended her advantage to three at halfway, while a steady even-par-72 on Saturday ensured she carried a two-shot lead into the final round. She never relinquished it.
For Oh, it was another chapter of WAAP heartbreak. The Korean finished runner up for the second consecutive year. The Philippines’ Rianne Malixi continued her own remarkable championship record, tying for third alongside Australia’s Jazy Roberts at 6-under par 282. The reigning US Women’s Amateur champion is now the first player to record three top-five finishes in the event.
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.”
Strong Field Showcases Depth of Asia Pacific Women’s Golf
Elsewhere, Gyu Been Kim fell out of contention after double-bogeys at the seventh and ninth and eventually finished tied ninth. Local honours went to Darae Chung, who closed with a 76 to finish 22nd and lead the New Zealand contingent.
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 eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific once again showcased the depth of emerging talent across the region and the scale of opportunity awaiting its champion.
Next year, the championship moves to Japan, with the 2027 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific set for Taiheiyo Club Minori Course from 22 to 25 April. After what unfolded in Wellington, Yunseo Yang will arrive not just as a champion, but as the standard.
More information on the WAAP can be found at the championship website.
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Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Key Details and Summary
- Champion: Yunseo Yang claimed a historic first Korean victory with a wire-to-wire performance, winning by eight shots at Royal Wellington.
- Winning score: 16-under par 272, matching the WAAP record winning margin in challenging weather conditions.
- What’s next: Yang earns exemptions into the AIG Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship in 2026, with the WAAP heading to Japan next year.
