Bangkok, Thailand: The fourth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) has attracted a power-packed field, including 22 of the top-100 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

To be played on the Waterside Course at Thailand’s Siam Country Club from November 3-6, Asia-Pacific’s premier women’s amateur championship will feature 71 of the region’s finest golfers from 22 countries.

With three wins to her name in the past year, Korean Lim Ji-yoo is the highest-rated player in the field at world number nine.

However, much of the focus of attention will be on Thailand’s world number 46 Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and the Japanese duo of Mizuki Hashimoto and Saki Baba.

Baba is the form player having posted an imperious victory in last month’s US Women’s Amateur, while Hashimoto will be bidding to become the first back-to-back winner of the WAAP.

At last year’s championship in Abu Dhabi, Hashimoto trailed big-hitting Natthakritta by three strokes heading into the final round. But it was Hashimoto who emerged triumphant while Natthakritta had to settle for a share of second place alongside compatriot Kan Bunnabodee and Australian Kelsey Bennett.

At Siam Country Club, Natthakritta and Oklahoma State University star Rina Tatematsu, the world number 80, are two of an eight-strong Thai contingent aiming to follow in the footsteps of Atthaya Thitikul, who won the inaugural WAAP in Singapore in 2018.

Natthakritta, the 19-year-old from Bangkok, said: “Women’s golf in Thailand is very strong right now. We are not short of inspiration. Starting from Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn to Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya, we have had superstars who are amazing role models for all of us.

“The WAAP is the biggest championship we play in Asia-Pacific and is an amazing opportunity for us so early in our careers. We all dream of playing Major championships and the girl who wins will be able to play two out of the five next year.”

The other players representing the host nation are Taglao Jeeravivitaporn (world number 114), Pimpisa Rubrong, Navaporn Soontreeyapas, Suvichaya Vinijchaitham, Achiraya Sriwong and Eila Galitsky, a quarter-finalist at last month’s R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Carnoustie in Scotland.

Japan, meanwhile, will be seeking to provide the WAAP winner for the third time after Yuka Yasuda in 2019 and Hashimoto in 2021.

Prior to her sensational 11&9 win in the final of the US Women’s Amateur, 17-year-old Baba’s biggest achievement had been winning the Kanto Junior Championship in Japan. Further cementing her rising star status, she led Japan to the bronze medal at last month’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy in France where she finished fourth in the individual standings.

One of four amateurs to make the cut in this year’s US Women’s Open, tying for 29th place, Baba, 15th in the WAGR, said, “I am happy with the way I am playing. I’d love to win the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, not just for the playing opportunities that come with it, but also for Japan. The last two champions are from our country, and it would be awesome if I can extend that winning streak to three.”

The other four players representing Japan are also inside the top-50 of the WAGR including defending champion Hashimoto (world number 19), Hinano Muguruma (22nd), Reika Arakawa (28th) and Miku Ueta (47th).

Like Natthakritta, Bennett is eager to go one better than her finish at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The world number 79 will be joined in her quest to become the first Australian WAAP champion by world number 33 Kirsten Rudgeley, the 2021 English Women’s Amateur champion.

The WAAP has been developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to inspire future generations of women golfers and provides the champion with an unparalleled launch-pad early in their career through exemptions into two women’s Major championships and other elite amateur championships.

In 2023, the winner from Siam Country Club will be invited to compete in the AIG Women’s Open and Amundi Evian Championship. They will also be invited to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Hana Financial Group Championship.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive at The R&A, said: “Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region in world golf and has produced some exceptional talent in women’s golf over a number of years.

“The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship has established itself as the most aspirational title in the women’s amateur game in the region. The championship has played a vital role in the success stories of many players including AtthayaThitikul, Yuka Saso and Patty Tavatanakit and I am sure our new champion at Siam Country Club will make us equally proud with her achievements.”

Taimur Hassan Amin, Chairman APGC, said: “The depth of field in this year’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific is yet another indication of the potential that we have in our region. However, our job is far from over and we have to keep working towards growing women’s golf in all our member countries. A championship like WAAP is a big catalyst in that process.”

The championship will be broadcast live on each of the four days. There will be nearly 600 hours of television coverage to more than 180 million households.

The WAAP is supported by Rolex, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Trust Golf, Hana Financial Group and Samsung.