Strong Asian Presence in Match Play Phase

Colorado, United States: Xiao Kaili and Tarapath Panya will lead a 14-strong Asian contingent into the match play phase at the 74th US Girls’ Junior Championship.

China’s Xiao and Thai Tarapath finished the 36-hole stroke play segment in a share of fourth place on two-under 142 at the US Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course.

No fewer than 12 other players from Asia ended among the top-64 to progress to the knockout format to determine the champion. The Round of 64 will begin on Wednesday. Matches continue through to Saturday’s 36-hole championship match.

Joining Tarapath and Xiao are China’s Alice Zhao Ziyi (145) and Nancy Dai Yufei (146), Thais Alisa Inprasit (146) and Pimpisa Rubrong (147), Rianne Malixi of the Philippines (147), Japan’s Chizuru Komiya (147), Nika Ito (148) and Yuina Yogo (149) and Malaysian Jeneath Wong (150).

Korean Ashley Kim, Thai Thanana Kotchasanmanee and China’s Liu Yujie made it through on the cut-off mark of 151.

There was disappointment, though, for 2022 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan of Chinese Taipei and New Zealander Fiona Xu, both of whom will represent the Asia-Pacific in next month’s Patsy Hankins Trophy team match play clash against Europe in Spain.

Although Huang improved on her opening 79 by four shots it was not good enough to see her through. Xu, meanwhile, ended two shots further back.

Also missing out was Hong Kong China’s Arianna Lau. This year’s APGC Girls’ Junior Championship winner bowed out after rounds of 78 and 76.

In the Round of 64, Kim and Thana have particularly unenviable tasks.

While Korean Kim faces defending champion and medallist winner Yana Wilson, Thanana squares off with Anna Davis, last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion and second here in stroke play.

At least one Japanese player is guaranteed to reach the Round of 32 after the draw for Wednesday pitted Komiya against Yogo.

Following their impressive stroke play performances, 14-year-old Xiao and 16-year-old Tarapath both take on Canadians. Xiao is up against Swetha Sathish while Tarapath takes on Ruihan Kendria Wang.