Danang, Vietnam: Rianne Malixi, one of golf’s brightest prospects, will be aiming to celebrate in style when she spearheads a field brimming with talent at the seventh edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship.

Fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), Malixi will turn 18 on March 10, the day after the conclusion of the 2025 WAAP at Vietnam’s spectacular Hoiana Shores Golf Club.

The highest-rated player in the starting line-up that features 95 contestants from 24 countries, the teenage prodigy has her sights set on becoming the first player from the Philippines to lift the WAAP trophy in what is her fifth appearance in the championship.

“It’s always an honour to compete in this event. My memories from the WAAP are so phenomenal and it would be a cool thing to win. I'm Asian, so I would be very proud to win in my roots.

“This is my fifth time. I haven't got the job done yet, but having the opportunity to compete again is amazing and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Knowing that my birthday is coming up, it would mean a lot to win,” said Malixi, who was tied third in the WAAP in 2022 and joint fifth last year.

“The pressure is tremendous because a lot of people have high expectations for you. They expect you to play well; they expect you to do better. Also, everyone wants to beat you. It's hard because you also lose some friends; people come and go.

“But you have to also understand that you want to be the best for a reason. Heading to this week I've been prepping a lot. I know the competition will be really great so I'll work my butt off,” added the Filipina, who has committed to play collegiate golf at Duke University in North Carolina this year.

Last year, Malixi made global headlines when becoming only the second golfer to win both the US Girls’ Junior and the US Women’s Amateur in the same year. By adding her name to the illustrious list of WAAP champions, she would earn the distinction of being the only player to win both the Asia-Pacific and US Women’s Amateur crowns – as well as securing starting spots in three Major championships in 2025.

Setting records and precedents is nothing new to Malixi whose build-up to Hoiana Shores included an historic appearance in January’s Philippine Open, the season-opening event on the 2025 Asian Tour. At Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club in January, she not only became the first female competitor in the history of the Philippine Open, but also just the second female after Michelle Wie (SK Telecom, 2006) to participate in an Asian Tour event.

"It was very special for me [playing on the Asian Tour]. It was also huge for my preparations for the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and for the whole year,” said Malixi, who posted rounds of 75 and 72 on a course measuring more than 7,100 yards.

Among those expected to challenge Malixi for the title this week are Korean Oh Soo-min, Hong Kong’s Arianna Lau, Thais Achiraya Sriwong and Pimpisa Rubrong and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi.

Oh, ninth in the WAGR, is anxious to atone for a disappointing WAAP debut last year when she shared 26th place. “I made some mistakes last year and was not satisfied with my performance. I hope to have a much better position this time,” said the 16-year-old, who relieves the pressure of competitive golf by dancing.

For her part, Lau (WAGR #42) likes to wind down by composing music, playing piano and cello and singing. But this week, softly-spoken Lau wants to let her clubs do the talking. “My goal is to do my best. Every time I play in this tournament I grow as a player because it's such a strong field,” said the 2024 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) Junior Girls champion, who will begin collegiate golf at Northwestern University in Illinois this year.

As for Achiraya, the reigning Thailand Women’s Amateur Open champion who is 39th in the WAGR wants to follow in the footsteps of Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul (2018) and Eila Galitsky (2023) and become the third Thai to win the WAAP title.

Achiraya also wants to take a leaf out of Jeeno’s book by adopting a nickname – ‘One-On’ – given to her by her father. “I think I'm born to play this game. Since day one when I picked up a golf club I've loved this game. It's like a dream every day to do what I love. Ultimately, I want to be a winner,” she said.

If you believe in the saying to beware of the injured or ill golfer, then make sure to keep an eye out for Shinichi and Pimpisa in the coming days.

Shinichi, winner of last year’s Australian Women’s Amateur and currently 32nd in the WAGR, suffered an untimely bout of food poisoning the day after arriving in Vietnam and spent a few hours on a drip in a local hospital on Tuesday. Despite feeling weak and tired, she made it to the course today and is determined to tee it-up in the championship where she will be part of the marquee group that also features Malixi and Achiraya.

Pimpisa, meanwhile, twisted her ankle after stumbling on a staircase at the Hoiana Shores Golf Club. Although there was swelling, Pimpisa, who played in the Honda LPGA Thailand a fortnight ago and has risen to a career-best 53rd on the WAGR, managed to make it through the final practice round, even if she had to tread gingerly on the undulating fairways.

The honour of hitting the first tee shot on the opening hole at 7:30 am (local time) on Thursday has been afforded to Vietnam’s Nguyen Bao Chau, at the age of 12 the youngest player in the field.

Among those heading off from the 10th tee is Nadene Gole, the 56-year-old Australian who triumphed last year in The R&A Women’s Senior Amateur and US Senior Women’s Amateur.

Developed by the APGC and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage, the WAAP provides the champion with life-changing opportunities.

The winner at Hoiana Shores will be invited to compete in three of this year’s major championships – the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship – as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, the 122nd Women's Amateur Championship and, by tradition, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The R&A and APGC are supported by championship event partners that share their commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Hoiana Shores Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, New World Hoiana Hotel, Peter Millar, G Link Logistics and Titleist.