Fernandez Makes Solid Start at Blustery Kent Links

Kent, England: Singapore’s Anne Fernandez rose to the challenge on a blustery opening-day at The 120th Women’s Amateur Championship.

While many of the Asia-Pacific’s leading lights struggled to come to terms with the tricky conditions at Prince’s, Fernandez returned an even-par 72. That was four strokes off the pace being set by German Christin Eisenbeiss and Silje Torvund Ohma from Norway.

As testing winds strengthened during the day to provide a formidable test for the 144-player international field representing 36 countries, Thailand’s Eila Galitsky and Chinese Taipei’s Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan, the past two winners of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), were among those to suffer.

Galitsky, who triumphed in the WAAP Singapore in March, suffered a triple-bogey seven at the seventh en route to an outward two-over 38. Although she held steady through six holes of the back nine, dropped shots at each of the last three holes meant the 16-year-old signed for a five-over 77.

Meanwhile, Huang, the 2022 WAAP champion, failed to make a single birdie in a round of 82 that contained seven bogeys and a triple-bogey seven at the 16th.

With only the leading 64 players and ties following Wednesday’s second round advancing to the match play stage, both Galitsky and Huang will need to improve significantly if they’re to have any chance of progressing.

Of the other Asia-Pacific players in the starting line-up, Japan’s Sera Hasegawa and Australian Justice Bosio returned 73s. That was two better than Bosio’s compatriots Lion Higo and Caitlin Peirce and three ahead of Indian Nishna Patel.

Alongside Galitsky on 77 were Thai Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Australian Abbie Teasdale, while Rianne Malixi of the Philippines and Malaysian Jeneath Wong carded 79s.

Japan’s Ami Yamashita and Shio Chaki had 82 and 83 respectively, followed by Indonesian Elaine Widjaja (84) and Indian Mannat Brar (87).

At a venue that boasts three nine-hole loops, the Shore and Dunes layouts are being used this week, Ireland’s Beth Coulter, Andrea Revuelta of Spain, Darcy Harry from Wales and Dane Natacha Host Husted all posted 69s to share third place, one behind the leading duo.

The field includes 12 players in the top-50 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking and the favourites also jostled for early position.

New world number one amateur Ingrid Lindblad from Sweden is well-placed after a 73, with Hannah Darling – the highest placed Great Britain and Ireland player in the world – two shots better off.