Nur Diana and Zi Yu out to shine with different strokes at WAAP C’ship

Raring to go: Golfers Nur Diana Syafiqah Abdullah and Foong Zi Yu look forward to a fruitful outing at the WAAP Championship.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian debutants Nur Diana Syafiqah Abdullah and Foong Zi Yu are aiming to produce their best golf when the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Champion­ship tees off at Royal Wellington Golf Club tomorrow.

The 17-year-old Nur Diana received a late call-up to the elite field and will test her game for the first time against the region’s top amateurs while 20-year-old Zi Yu plans to play “boring golf” in a bid to challenge for top honours.

The pair are among five Malaysians in this week’s field, headlined by defending champion Jeneath Wong, who became the first player from the country to win the prestigious championship in Vietnam last year.

“I was not in the top five of the Malaysian rankings, so I am very grateful for the opportunity,” said Nur Diana, who recorded two World Amateur Golf Ranking wins last year.

“It feels random but I never thought I get to play in this. It’s a great experience to meet good players and keep learning.”

She idolises Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, the inaugural WAAP champion in 2018 and current women’s world No. 1.

“Jeeno is my all-time favourite. I like how she manages the course and the way she thinks. I hope I can be very consistent like her one day.’’

Zi Yu, who studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, believes her game has matured since her previous WAAP appearances.

“In the past, my mindset was just to make the cut. Now I feel more confident. It’s going to be windy but I’m expecting a fun week. I want to play boring golf, keep things in play and put myself in good positions,” she said.

Zi Yu attended the WAAP Academy at Royal Wellington last November and believes the experience has helped her prepare well.

“The course is looking great and the greens are holding well. The par-fives could be an advantage if I play them smartly.”

Zi Yu won the Ram Classic in the United States and posted eight top-10 finishes in World Amateur Golf Ranking events last year. She also finished runner-up at the Dick McGuire Invitational while representing UNLV.

She counts men’s world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and her UNLV coach Amy Bush-Herzer as her two biggest influences.

“Scheffler makes golf look boring, which is how the game should be played. And my coach Amy has helped my game so much over the past two years. I am excited to continue the season with her.”