Melbourne, Australia: Australia has included one first-timer – New South Wales star Annika Rathbone – to its team of six for the 2024 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Thailand next month.
Rathbone joins five players who competed last year in Singapore – Queensland’s Sarah Hammett and Justice Bosio, South Australian Caitlin Peirce, Western Australian Abbie Teasdale and Victorian Jazy Roberts – in this year’s team.
The tournament, which carries Major championship invitations for the winner, is scheduled for February 1-4 at Siam Country Club in Pattaya.
No Australian has won the WAAP since its inception in 2018, with Kelsey Bennett’s runner-up finish in 2021 being the best result.
The WAAP is an important championship in itself, but its rewards are off the charts. This year’s winner will receive an invitation to three professional Majors in 2024: the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, the Amundi Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States.
In addition, they will also be invited to the Hana Financial Group Championship in Asia, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, the 121st Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Adelaide’s Peirce was the best Australian in 2023 in a tie for 13th place, and she will lead the way in Thailand again.
Rathbone, 20, earned her place for the first time by going undefeated at the Golf Australia Inter-State Matches at St Michael’s in 2023 as NSW triumphed.
She has previously won three consecutive pennant titles with The Australian Golf Club and was also prominent at the Australian Amateur in 2023.
“I was over the moon when I received the email,” said Rathbone. “I had tears of joy. It’s such an honour and it’s been a childhood dream of mine to represent Australia at the upcoming Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific.”
Golf Australia’s Female Pathway Manager Stacey Peters was delighted with the selections.
Peters said: “It’s a good, strong team with that mix of youth and experience. Five of these girls know what this is all about and know how to handle the emotions of playing in an event with such a big prize at the end of it.
“Annika as the new member of the team has been really impressive and played her way into the mix. The stakes are high and we’re up for it.”
*Article by Golf Australia
