Change of Plans as Opportunities Abound for WAAP Champion

Wellington, New Zealand: In the wake of her historic Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) triumph Yang Yun-seo will delay joining the ranks of the professionals.

Leading from wire-to-wire, Yang eased to an eight-shot victory at Royal Wellington Golf Club on Sunday, the first winner from Korea since the event’s inauguration in 2018.

Thanks to her New Zealand success, the 18-year-old has secured starts in three professional Majors this year – the AIG Women’s Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship – as well as spots in the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).

Those exemptions are dependent upon her retaining her amateur status, prompting Yang to put a temporary hold on her plans.

“I was planning to turn pro this summer. But by winning the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific there might be slight changes in my plan,” said Yang, who indicated that had she not won the WAAP she’d have made the transition to the pro ranks following the ANWA in the first week of April.

Now, however, she can look forward to an exciting schedule over the next six months that includes top-level playing opportunities in Australia, England, France, Scotland and the United States.

Her next immediate destination is Thailand where she will join a Korea Golf Association training camp after which it will be off to the US where she’ll make her debut in the ANWA.

“I’ve been looking forward to participating at Augusta National since last winter, so I was practicing hard, trying to get my ranking up to qualify,” said Yang, who will then make her first appearance in an LPGA Major at The Chevron Championship at Houston’s Memorial Park Golf Course (April 23-26).

Europe will be the mid-year destination, starting with the 123rd Amateur Championship at Scotland’s Muirfield Golf Club (June 22-27) followed by the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort (July 9-12) and the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham St Anne’s in England (July 30-August 2).

She said: “Obviously LPGA tournaments are going to be different to the environment that I’ve been used to so I’m going to practice very hard. At those tournaments, I’m going to be more in a learning stance and try to gain a lot of experience.”