Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship: Han leads way for Hong Kong, trio make flying start in Thailand
- Sophie Han cards two-under-par 70 to sit in a tie for 12th, three shots behind leaders
- Thailand’s Navaporn Soontreeyapas hits hole-in-one on way to five-under 67, matched by Elia Galitsky and Chun
A hole-in-one propelled Navaporn Soontreeyapas into a share of the lead with fellow Thai and defending champion Eila Galitsky and Taiwan’s Wu Chun-wei on a thrilling opening day at the sixth Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship.
A member of the gold medal-winning Thai team at last year’s Southeast Asian Games, Navaporn used her pitching wedge to ace the 110-yard 7th hole at Siam Country Club on Thursday.
Buoyed by that masterstroke, the 18-year-old went on to sign for a five-under-par 67, a score matched by Galitsky and Wu.
Looking to improve on her historic third place last year, Sophie Han led the way for Hong Kong’s six-strong contingent, finishing two-under at the Waterside Course.
Arianna Lau carded a one-over 73, Siuue Wu, Hoi Ki Lau and Sabrina Wong were all a shot further back, while Angel Yin Jiayi shot a five-over 77.
On a day of low scoring, 11 players in the elite 90-strong field shot rounds in the 60s and no fewer than 31 bettered par at the venue that also hosted the event in 2022.