Yang marches three clear at Royal Wellington
Record-breaking Korean teenager keeps her nerve in rain and closes on history at Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific
Korean teenager Yunseo Yang surged into a three-stroke halfway lead at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Wellington on Friday after rounds of 64 and 67 gave her a record 13-under 131 at Royal Wellington.
Defying heavy rain showers and humid conditions, the 18-year-old bettered the championship’s previous 36-hole mark by one and moved three ahead of compatriot Gyu Been Kim and the Philippines’ Rianne Malixi heading into Saturday’s penultimate round.
“I was a bit nervous at the start of the round and things didn’t go exactly the way I wanted early on,” said Yang, who birdied her opening hole before dropping her first shot of the week at the 12th. “But I focused on what I could control and good results followed. I tried my best to stay calm and composed.
“My putting was solid again today. I managed my strategy well according to the pin positions, and the results were positive. That was the key to maintaining my score.”
Yang’s closest challenger on the day was 16-year-old Kim, making her championship debut, who rebounded from an early bogey with eight birdies, six of them in an eight-hole burst from the seventh, in a best-of-the-day 65. “My putting was exactly how I wanted it to be. I made several putts from 12 to 15 feet and didn’t make any mistakes from within ten feet,” she said. “Normally, I would try to manage the course more conservatively, but this time I’m going to play more aggressively.”
Malixi, the 2024 US Women’s Amateur winner, signed for 66 to share second and remained composed in pursuit. “I hit a lot of really good iron shots today – it was much better than yesterday. But I left a couple out there, so I know there’s a lot of room for improvement and I can shoot even lower. I don’t want to think about how far back I am. I just want to play my best golf, focus on my game, take it shot-by-shot.”
Behind them, Sumin Hong’s 68 lifted her into a share of fourth alongside Japan’s Ai Goto on 137, while Soomin Oh, Australia’s Jazy Roberts and Thailand’s Prim Prachnakorn were joint sixth on 138. Hong’s round also matched Mizuki Hashimoto’s championship record of six consecutive rounds under 70.
Further back, first-round challenger Arianna Lau slipped to tied ninth after a 74, and defending champion Jeneath Wong fell to equal 23rd on 145 following a 73. “Just as we were about to tee off it was heavy rain. You couldn’t see anything and the tee box was flooding. But when the rain slowed down a little, the course dried quickly. But the weather and tough pin positions made it really hard,” she said.
The halfway cut fell at six-over 150, with Sri Lanka’s Kaya Daluwatte celebrating her first weekend appearance. “I’ve played this championship for three years now, but previously I didn’t play well enough to make the cut. My game is a lot better than it was last year and I’m very proud to make the cut. Coming here for the WAAP Academy and getting to see the course really helped.
“I hope to not be the only Sri Lankan to make the cut. Hopefully, many more in the future will make the cut at this lovely championship. We’re a small country and not many girls play golf in Sri Lanka. I’m one of the few. Hopefully, I can inspire more girls to play and take up the sport in Sri Lanka.”
Seven of the 11 New Zealanders also advanced, including 13-year-old Elise Barber, the youngest player in the field, who covered her closing 12 holes in one-under. “I don’t know how to explain it. It’s such a great feeling, especially when I thought after the first couple of holes I had no chance. I’m really impressed with myself for keeping my composure,” she said.
With significant exemptions into three major championships awaiting the champion, Yang now stands on the brink of becoming the first Korean winner of the region’s leading women’s amateur title, her calm putting stroke carrying both authority and history into the weekend.