WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Teenager Chuc An Le hopes to extend her rich vein of form as she leads Vietnam’s challenge at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship, which begins at Royal Wellington Golf Club on Thursday (Nov 12).
The 18-year-old arrived for the eighth edition of the region’s pre-eminent women’s amateur event with her confidence soaring after a five-stroke victory on home soil at the Trang An – AJGA International Pathway Series a fortnight ago.
It will be her third start in the WAAP, with a best finish of tied 30th at Hoiana Shores in Vietnam last year. Defending champion Jeneath Wong of Malaysia headlines this week’s elite field, which also includes Korea’s Soomin Oh, ranked 11th in the Women’s Amateur Golf Ranking, the Philippines’ Rianne Malixi (21st) and China’s Zhou Shiyuan (22nd).
“I’ve been playing a lot of tournaments inside and outside the country, and I just won the AJGA event in Vietnam. That makes me a lot stronger, so I’ve got more confidence coming into this week,” said An Le.
“It’s my first time here at Royal Wellington and the course is beautiful. However, it’s challenging when the wind comes up in the late afternoon.”
As Vietnam’s highest-ranked women’s amateur golfer, An Le, who has committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Tennessee, appreciates the importance of the WAAP, which has celebrated champions such as Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, now the world No. 1 in women’s professional golf.
“It’s a pleasure to be here because I get to play against the best amateurs in the world and learn from them. It’s really good experience. Playing against the top amateurs in the Asia-Pacific has helped me improve not only my technical skills but also my mental strength and course management.
“I hope to play two or three more years in the WAAP before I turn professional,” added An Le, who won the individual bronze medal for Vietnam at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December.
While Vietnam waits to celebrate a first WAAP winner, An Le is keeping her goals realistic this week, with a simple plan to improve on last year’s tied 30th finish. She also hopes to see more Vietnamese amateurs teeing up in the WAAP in the near future.
“I think I could have played better last year,” she said. “I’ve grown a little more this past year and gained more experience, so I’m hoping for maybe a top-15 finish this week.
“It’s a little sad ( I’m the only player here). I know I carry my country’s hopes and I’ll do my best. Hopefully I can achieve a new personal best.”
The teenage prospect has produced several eye-catching performances, including a home victory at the 2024 Faldo Series Asia Grand Final and becoming the first Vietnamese champion on the All-Thailand Tour last year against the professionals.
An Le began playing golf as a curious six-year-old after seeing golf balls flying through the air while accompanying her father to a golf course. She took an interest in the sport because “the more you play, the more difficult it becomes, so you want to pursue it more.”
Her golf idol is LPGA Tour star Nelly Korda. “I like Nelly — she’s been my favourite for a while. I’ve been watching her play a lot and she inspires me because she’s a young golfer and she started playing on the LPGA when she was about 16 years old,” said An Le.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage and the rewards on offer are significant. The champion will earn exemptions into three major championships in 2026, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, The Amundi Evian Championship in France and the Chevron Championship in the United States.
The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, Titleist, Sparms, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz and Tongariro, as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and Wellington Council and host association Golf New Zealand.
