WAAP Champions Target Patsy Hankins Trophy Success

Singapore: Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) champions Mizuki Hashimoto and Tiffany Huang Ting-hsuan will add a touch of class to the Asia-Pacific team at the third Patsy Hankins Trophy.

Japan’s Hashimoto, triumphant in the WAAP in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and Chinese Taipei’s Huang, victorious in Thailand in 2022, have confirmed their participation in the Solheim Cup-style match play event that pits the leading female amateurs from the Asia-Pacific against their counterparts from Europe.

“We’re thrilled to have two Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champions in our line-up,” said Liz McKinnon, non-playing captain of the Asia-Pacific team that will be aiming for a third successive Patsy Hankins Trophy success at Spain’s La Manga Club from August 3-5.

“Mizuki and Tiffany both have a wealth of top-level international experience, individually and representing their countries in team events. I’m sure, the exposure they’ve had will stand them in good stead in Spain,” added New Zealander McKinnon.

As of last week, Hashimoto was 28th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) with Huang in 37th spot.

As well as her victory in the WAAP, Hashimoto was the leading individual in last year’s Queen Sirikit Cup and flew the flag for Japan in the women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Her best performance to date in 2023 came in January’s Australian Women’s Amateur Championship where she defeated a world-class field.

Huang has also enjoyed some impressive outings this year, including a ninth-place finish in her WAAP title defence before heading to America where she made the cut in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur championship.

Other confirmed players for the 12-strong Asia-Pacific Patsy Hankins Trophy team are New Zealand’s Fiona Xu, Korean duo Kim Min-sol and Park Ye-ji, Indian Avani Prashanth and Singapore’s Shannon Tan.