Melbourne, Australia: Rianne Malixi will be aiming to kick-start her 2025 campaign with a successful title defence at the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs.

Victory at Southern Golf Club this year proved the catalyst for a stunning season for the 17-year-old from the Philippines.

In addition to her Australian Master of the Amateurs triumph, Malixi underlined her status as one of the game’s brightest prospects by winning both the US Women’s Amateur and the US Junior Girls’.

The women’s field at Southern Golf Club has been increased to 84 elite amateur golfers, made up of international players and Australian players.

At number three in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Malixi will be the highest-rated player in the field from January 3-6.

Among those expected to mount challenges are Japan’s Ko Kurabayashi (69th in the WAGR) and Australian Sarah Hammett (71st).

Along with Malixi, 2021 champion Lion Hugo of Australia and 2022 winner Jeneath Wong of Malaysia will set out with the ambition of becoming the first female player to win Green Jacket twice.

In recognition of the strength of the 2025 women’s field and the shared passion to create pathways for Women in Golf, Karen Lunn, CEO of the Women’s PGA Tour of Australasia, has afforded the 2025 Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs champion a position into the WPGA Championship of Australia, which is co-sanctioned on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

Furthermore, New South Wales Golf has afforded the 2025 Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs champion a position into the Australian Women’s Classic, also co-sanctioned on the LET.

The Australian Master of the Amateurs championship will be played over 72 holes of stroke play with a cut after 54 holes.