Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates: Sophie Han shrugged off an untimely bout of illness that had threatened to undermine the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s hopes of reclaiming the Patsy Hankins Trophy.
With less than 24 hours before the opening foursomes session teed-off at Al Hamra Golf Club, Hong Kong China’s Han was laid low.
“She’s resting in her hotel room,” said non-playing captain Joanne McKee, who was closely monitoring the situation with a couple of other team members showing potential signs of flu symptons.
“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious and won’t affect our plans,” added McKee, who was due to announce her pairings for the foursomes prior to Tuesday evening’s opening ceremony.
Although the 17-year-old Han’s condition improved markedly as the day wore on, McKee opted to take the precautionary measure of resting her from the foursomes with a view to her lining up in the afternoon fourballs.
Han enjoyed a memorable 2024 season highlighted by a brilliant victory against the professionals from the China LPGA Tour at the Reignwood China LPGA Classic. She also posted top-10s at the Queen Sirikit Cup and the IMG Academy Junior World Championship.
Named after the respected late New Zealand golfing administrator Patsy Hankins, the first two editions of the Patsy Hankins Trophy were won by the Asia-Pacific in 2016 and 2018 with Yuka Saso, Hannah Green, Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul among those who represented the APGC.
After the Covid-enforced cancellation of the 2020 event, the third edition of the Patsy Hankins Trophy was staged at Spain’s La Manga Club in 2023 when Europe won for the first time.
With England’s Lottie Woad, number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), spearheading the European team, the Asia-Pacific will be looking to Malaysian Mirabel Tang for a strong showing.
Fourth in the WAGR, Ting has been paired with China’s Zhou Shiyuan and will play in the anchor foursomes match against the Swedish pair of Nora Sundberg and Louise Rydqvist.
The responsibility for leading off the Asia-Pacific challenge has been given to the Thai duo of Eila Galitsky and Suvichaya Vinichaitham. They face the daunting task of squaring off with the English pair of Woad and Patience Rhodes.
PATSY HANKINS TROPHY FOURSOMES DRAW, DAY ONE
Eila Galitsky and Suvichaya Vinichaitham (Asia-Pacific) v Lottie Woad and Patience Rhodes (Europe)
Mamika Shinchi and Aira Nagasawa (Asia-Pacific) v Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan (Europe)
Cindy Hsu Huai-chien and Vivian Lu (Asia-Pacific) v Francesca Fiorellini and Rocio Tejedo (Europe)
Jeong Min-seo and Arianna Lau (Asia-Pacific) v Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto and Emma Kaisa Dalgaard Bunch (Europe)
Mirabel Ting and Zhou Shiyuan (Asia-Pacific) v Nora Sundberg and Louise Rydqvist (Europe)
BONALLACK TROPHY FOURSOMES DRAW
Hiroshi Tai and Nguyen Anh Minh (Asia-Pacific) v Jose Luis Ballester and Pablo Ereno Perez (Europe)
Pichaksin Maichon and Zhou Ziqin (Asia-Pacific) v Algot Kleen and Arni Sveinsson (Europe)
Rintaro Nakano and Taishi Moto (Asia-Pacific) v Charlie Forster and Dominic Clemons (Europe)
Joshua Bai and Zack Swanwick (Asia-Pacific) v Tim Wiedemeyer and Peer Wernicke (Europe)
Enrique Dimayuga and Kartik Singh (Asia-Pacific) v Richard Teder and Lev Grinberg (Europe)
