MLAO shaping the women’s game

Glenmarie will play host to the 40th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship. — Photo: Handout

Malaysia’s rising stars join strong international field

THE Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (Malga) will celebrate a major milestone this week when it hosts the 40th Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open Championship.

The event takes place from Tuesday through Thursday at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam, marking four decades of one of Asia’s top women’s amateur tournaments.

Now in its landmark 40th edition, the championship has grown into a respectable fixture on the regional amateur calendar.

This year’s field features 120 players from 12 countries – Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – reaffirming the tournament’s status as a leading international amateur event.

Held in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, the tournament also supports the country’s sports tourism agenda, welcoming golfers from across the region to experience Malaysia’s world-class golf courses, hospitality and cultural attractions.

Malaysia will field 26 players in the Open Division, led by Foong Zi Yu, last year’s first runner-up.

She will be joined by Batrisyia Balqis, fresh off her victory at the 50th Selangor Amateur Open, Sohniya Chandra Mohan, champion of the 49th Kelantan Amateur Open, and Wang Xin Yao, one of Malaysia’s leading amateurs and a strong pre-tournament favourite.

The championship comprises three categories: the Open Division, a World Amateur Golf Ranking counting event, the Mid-Amateur Division for experienced amateurs, and the Senior Division, celebrating long participation in the sport.

Adding further incentive, the Open Division champion from an Asean member country will earn automatic entry into the Maybank Championship’s Asean Qualifier – a valuable pathway to elite competition.

The Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open underscores Malga’s long-standing commitment to developing women’s golf by providing international exposure, fostering good sportsmanship and strengthening ties among participating nations.

This year’s event is powered by the Youth and Sports Ministry and supported by major sponsor Tradewinds Corporation Berhad.

Malga also acknowledged Hilton Shah Alam as the Official Hotel and Glenmarie Golf & Country Club as the championship venue.

Additional support came from LSF Technology, Celovis Jewellery, Maltel, Nuh Travel and JUZZ Coffee.

AlpZTech serves as the Official Live Scoring Partner, while MST Golf and SVE are sponsoring the hole-in-one prizes.

Tournament organising chairman and Malga president, Tunku Puteri Puan Sri Datuk Seri Jawahir binti Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, said the 40th edition reflects Malga’s enduring mission to elevate women’s golf and provide a world-class competitive platform for emerging talent.

“Malga welcomes golf fans, the public and media to Glenmarie to witness three days of top-tier amateur golf and support the rising stars of women’s golf,” she said.

“Over the past four decades, this championship has contributed significantly to the development of women’s golf in both, Malaysia and the region,” she added.