Augusta, Georgia, United States: One of the pre-tournament favourites at this week’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), Mirabel Ting faces a painful Saturday looking in from the outside after missing the cut.
A week that began with high hopes of glory for the 19-year-old Malaysian is ending in bitter disappointment.
Number two in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and one of the in-form players coming into the tournament, Ting made a stuttering start with a four-over 76 at Champions Retreat Golf Club in the opening round.
Despite a brave comeback on day two when she carded a four-under 68, Ting was left to ponder what might have been after suffering the anguish of failing to qualify for today’s closing round at Augusta National by a single stroke.
Reflecting on her performance, Ting admitted she placed too much expectation on herself.
“I came into this tournament with a lot of expectations,” said Ting, a junior at Florida State who has won five times this season, including a 10-stroke victory in the Florida State Match Up two weeks ago.
“I think that is one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made. I shouldn’t have put so much pressure on myself and expected so much in this event.
“But today (second round) was a great round. I played more freely than yesterday, and scoring was much better.
“Like my sister and my coach always say, just another round of golf. We just have to play with what we have. I think I learned that this week a lot.”
Ting’s compatriot Jeneath Wong also missed the cut following rounds of 73 and 74. The 20-year-old arrived at Augusta in high spirits having triumphed in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Vietnam last month.
Five of the 15 starters representing Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation countries will tee-up at Augusta on Saturday – Korean Jung Min-seo, Thais Eila Galitsky and Achiraya Sriwong and Japanese duo Mamika Shinchi and Ko Kurabayashi.
Jung is in a share of 12th place on 141, followed by 2023 WAAP champion Galitsky (tied 17th, 142). Sriwong, Shinchi and Kurabayashi are equal 27th on 143.
Defending champion Lottie Woad and Kiara Romero share the 36-hole lead at nine-under.
England’s Woad won the 2024 championship with a total score of eight-under 208, while American Romero, making her second appearance in the championship, will play in her first competitive round at Augusta National on Saturday.
Three players trail by one stroke and are tied for third at eight-under – Carla Bernat Escuder, Andrea Revuelta and Megha Ganne.
Ganne and Woad will both begin their third consecutive final rounds at Augusta National. American Ganne’s best finish was tied for ninth in 2023.
Revuelta is paired with fellow Spaniard Bernat Escuder. Both players finished inside the top-20 in 2024.
