Paraparaumu, New Zealand: Teenager Eunseo Choi will enter next week’s Queen Sirikit Cup on a high after winning the 2024 New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
Choi, who will spearhead her country’s bid for a first Queen Sirikit Cup victory since 1999, produced a gutsy display at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club to claim her first national title.
“It’s amazing to have a New Zealand title on my record now,” said 17-year-old Choi, who will join forces with Vivian Lu and Amy Im at Christchurch’s Clearwater Golf Club in the 72-hole Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship, starting on March 20.
Choi, who posted a four-day total of one-over 285, added: “I saw Vivian’s [Lu] name on the trophy twice, so it’s nice to win one as well after losing to her quite a lot. It’s great to have followed in the footsteps of all the great players who have won this event in the past.
“I’ve had a great start to the year and I hope this will keep the momentum and my flow going.”
Choi, who receives a scholarship from Craig’s Investment Partners following her victory, said: “This gives me a lot of confidence and proves that I am one of the best players in New Zealand.
“I’m part of the New Zealand team and the Golf New Zealand National Academy. I now know that despite any future form slumps, I have the game to perform at a high level.
“I’ll be sweet to go next week. I have a few things to touch up, but I feel ready for the Queen Sirikit Cup. Hopefully, I can help the New Zealand team to a historic win.”
At Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, Choi overcame an opening round of 78 with a course record-equalling seven-under 64 in round two, which included a hole-in-one on the iconic par-three fifth, establishing a four-shot lead with two rounds to play.
After a third round of even-par, she retained her four-shot buffer heading into the final round.
However, her lead was reduced to one after a challenging start, where she double-bogeyed the third and bogeyed the fourth. To her credit, she quickly regrouped, making birdies at seven, 10, and 12 to extend her lead to three.
Choi’s lead became two following a bogey at 13, but she played her remaining holes in even to finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Faith Vu from Samoa, the defending champion.
A further stroke back in third was Im, who will be making her Queen Sirikit Cup debut next week.
