Im Earns Queen Sirikit Cup Debut for Hosts New Zealand

Christchurch, New Zealand: Amy Im’s strong performance at the sixth Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) has earned her a place in the New Zealand team for next month’s 44th Queen Sirikit Cup.

Joining Im in the three-strong line-up at Clearwater Golf Club from March 20-23 will be Vivian Lu and Eunseo Choi.

The Kiwi trio will attempt to emulate New Zealand’s success in 1999 when the hosts emerged victorious at Paraparaumu Beach – the last time the trophy remained on New Zealand shores.

Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange), Choi (Takapuna) and Im (Pupuke) will compete against 14 other countries over 54 holes at the famous Christchurch course, with the best two out of three individual scores counting towards the team score each day.

Lu and Choi are no strangers to the event. Lu has played the previous three iterations, while Choi was a member of the previous two sides.

Following her strong performance at Siam Country Club in Thailand a fortnight ago in the WAAP, where she finished equal 14th at seven-under-par, Im earned her selection in the side alongside the two New Zealand Espirito Santo team members, taking the vacant spot as Fiona Xu has transitioned into the professional game.

Adding to her solid WAAP performance, the 386th-ranked woman in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) has victories at the 2023 Ruth Middleton Cup and North Shore Classic and was runner-up at the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship.

The Queen Sirikit Cup debutant says she’s looking forward to wearing the silver fern for the first time.

She said: “It’s a privilege to represent New Zealand and play alongside two Espirito Santo Trophy players like Vivian and Eunseo. I know them both well and I’m sure they’ll share everything they’ve learned playing this event in the past with me.

“I’m really proud to have made the side and I’m looking forward to testing my skills against some of Asia-Pacific’s top women golfers again.”

Her North Harbour teammate, Choi, is accumulating plenty of experience donning the silver fern. The 17-year-old has represented New Zealand at two Queen Sirikit Cups and two World Amateur Teams Championships.

The 139th-ranked player on WAGR and top-ranked Kiwi has made a fast start to 2024, finishing third at the Australian Women’s Amateur, ninth at the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs, and a share of 16th at the WAAP, finishing a shot behind Im.

Lu, the 157th-ranked player on WAGR, carries the most experience wearing the fern, having played in three Queen Sirikit Cups and a couple of World Amateur Teams Championships.

The University of Washington student finished equal 12th individually last year, helping New Zealand to a fifth-place finish.

Liz McKinnon, New Zealand’s Queen Sirikit Cup team manager, says this side has every chance of recreating New Zealand’s 1999 success at Paraparaumu Beach.

“It’s exciting for these players to be wearing the silver fern at home in front of friends, family, and Kiwi golf fans. Amy is stepping up following a strong international performance last week, while Eunseo and Vivian are familiar with the event and know what to expect. Hopefully, they can create some history for this proud golfing country,” said McKinnon, who captained the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s Patsy Hankins Trophy team against the European Golf Association in Spain last year.

New Zealand has won the Queen Sirikit Cup on three occasions since it was first played in 1979. Korea is the most successful nation at the annual women’s Asia-Pacific event, with 22 victories.