Elite Elevation for RSGC Ladies' Amateur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The 49th RSGC Ladies Amateur Open has attracted a strong field of elite players from across the region, including 2025 APGC Junior Girls’ winner Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul as part of a strong Thai contingent.

To be played at The Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur from August 4-6, the championship has attracted entries from the host nation, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

In a milestone move, this year’s edition will be played solely as a gross event in two divisions, with a concurrent team event based on the first 36 holes. Past tournaments had featured nett categories, but the club decided to discard all nett categories to take the championship to a higher, elite level.

Tournament Director Dr Chew Seng Poh said: “There is no nett event this year. The two individual divisions and the team event will be based on gross scores. This will elevate our tournament to the next level, where we only want the best to come and play with the best.”

With a World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) of 95, the 18-year-old Kritchanya is the highest-rated player in the field and will start as one of the hot favourites. Another player to look out for is her compatriot Namo Luangnitikul, winner of the 2025 Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open and placed 180th in the WAGR.

While Kritchanya and Namo will both be making their maiden appearances at RSGC, they will arrive with fond memories of Malaysia having competed in last year’s Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. They earned coveted starts in the LPGA Tour event by finishing first and third respectively in the ASEAN Qualifier.

The Malaysian challenge will be led by Wang Xin Yao, who plays on the US collegiate circuit for Virginia Tech and has a WAGR of 238.

Open to female amateurs aged 12 and above with handicap indices of 13.4 and below, the 54-hole competition will be played at RSGC’s East Course, which is made up of the first nine of the Old Course and the second nine of the New Course.

Founded in 1893, RSGC is Malaysia’s oldest existing golf club and is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The lush parkland layout provides a green lung in the midst of a cityscape of glittering skyscrapers.

“For almost five decades, this championship has proudly stood as Malaysia's longest-running private club-based women's amateur golf event, earning itself a reputation as one of the region's premier amateur tournaments,” said Tournament Chairman Omar Salim.

“Every August, aspiring golfers arrive at The Royal Selangor Golf Club with the dream of testing themselves against the region's best. And many leave with something even greater – new-found confidence, invaluable experience, and the belief that they belong among the region's finest golfers. For many, this championship marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards their dream of playing professional golf,” he added.