Jeneath eyes first cut in the year's final Major
Jeneath will be making her third Major start of 2025, courtesy of exemptions from her gutsy victory at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship in Vietnam earlier this year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Jeneath finds lessons and positives in Women's British Open debut
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian amateur Jeneath Wong can take plenty of positives from her outing at the Women's British Open despite a challenging finish over the weekend. The 20-year-old marked a personal milestone by making the cut for the first time in a Major, eventually placing 71st with a four-day total of 17-over 305 (72-74-77-82) at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club yesterday. Jeneath survived the halfway cut right on the number at two-over but struggled in harsher conditions as wind and rain swept through the weekend rounds on the demanding links course. A links course is a coastal golf course known for its rolling terrain, deep bunkers, and exposure to strong winds. "Definitely not the finish I was hoping for, but making my first Major cut is still a big positive," said Jeneath in an interview with the LPGA. "I learnt a lot this week about managing my game under pressure and staying patient out there. I also felt like my ball-striking held up well against a really strong field, which is a big confidence booster." The reigning Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, Jeneath was making her third Major appearance of the year after missing the cut at both the Chevron Championship and Evian Championship. She also featured in 2023 US Open. Jeneath described the final day as a true test of links golf, with strong winds and rain making conditions extremely challenging and turning each round into a different experience. Still, she called the week unforgettable, from the supportive fans to the historic setting, and said it has only strengthened her resolve to return to more Majors in the future. "Today was definitely tougher as the 'real' links weather came, with the wind and rain picking up a lot during my round," she explained. "The course played a lot more difficult with the strong winds. It made every round seem like I was playing a totally different course. "Overall, it's been an amazing experience playing at Royal Porthcawl. The atmosphere was incredible, the fans were so supportive, and off the course I really enjoyed soaking in the history and the whole vibe of a links Major. It's definitely motivated me to keep working hard to be back in more of these events." Jeneath will head back to the United States for her final year at Pepperdine University in California, where she hopes to cap a strong collegiate season that will prepare her for life in the professional ranks — a path she looks set to take upon graduation.
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Miyu Yamashita claims Women's Open title for 1st career victory
PORTHCAWL: Heading into the week, foreign players had taken each of the previous eight LPGA Tour major championships, including three from Japan. At the AIG Women's Open yesterday, rookie Miyu Yamashita continued the trend. A day after celebrating her 24th birthday, Yamashita carded a 2-under-par 70 at Royal Porthcawl in Wales to finish at 11-under 277 for the tournament to record her first victory on tour and become the sixth-ever major champion from Japan — and the fourth in two years. "To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling," Yamashita said after the round, "and to have my family around me to have so much support from everyone here is just amazing. To be part of such a moment in history is something very, very special." The Osaka native finished two shots clear of Japan's Minami Katsu and England's Charley Hull, who both carded 69s. Yamashita became the second player this season to make a major championship her first win and joined Hinako Shibuno (2019) to win the AIG Women's Open. "Being my first win as well is something that's very special," Yamashita said, "and to celebrate with everyone is just an amazing feeling." Yamashita has certainly made the most of her first season on tour. In addition to Sunday's victory, she has made 13 other cuts in 15 starts with six top-10 finishes, including two in major championships. With 840 points, Yamashita sits 68 back of fellow countrywoman Rio Takeda for the LPGA's Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award. The leader since Friday, Yamashita was bogey-free until the par-4 17th. Fortunately, she already enjoyed some cushion from Hull. After closing to within a shot with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 14th, Hull found a pot bunker off the tee at 16 en route to a bogey. She carded another on the 17th that set the stage for Yamashita, whose made par on the 18th to secure the win. "It was a bit unfortunate, but I felt like I was very much in control of my game today," Hull said. "I don't feel like I mis-hit any shots out there. I hit it pretty pure today." Hull added that she was unsure if she was going to even make the cut this week, noting that she was not hitting the ball well — especially after collapsing several times during July's Evian Championship. She conceded that she "still wasn't feeling well" until Sunday leading up to the AIG Women's Open. "So I think I done pretty well," Hull said, "and considering my mindset coming into it, I'm pretty proud of myself." Takeda, who carded a 1-under 71 on Sunday to finish at 7 under for the tournament, shared fourth place with South Korea's A Lim Kim, who shot a 73. Chinese Taipei's Wei-Ling Hsu and American Megan Khan each finished at 6 under, while Spanish amateur Paula Martin Sampedro, Australia's Stephanie Kyriacou and England's Lottie Woad — who won last week's Women's Scottish Open in her first professional tournament — rounded out the top 10 at 4 under. — REUTERS
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women's Open
PORTHCAWL, (Wales): Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the AIG Women's Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 yesterday at Porthcawl, Wales. After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday's final round. "One of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots," said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women's PGA Championship. "Because I'm able to do that, that means I don't put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships." A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under. "So honestly I'm not focused on the leader," Kim said. "I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That's all." A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under included Japan's Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England's Charley Hull and American Megan Khang. Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies. Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16. "I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round (Sunday)," Yamashita said. Yamashita and Takeda, who was alone in second place through two rounds, were the only members of the top 10 on the leaderboard to shoot over par Saturday. Takeda, who was Yamashita's playing partner, also was 2 over. Katsu had the low round of the day at 7-under 65 to put herself into contention by moving up 31 spots on the leaderboard. She got off to a slow start with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes before going on a red-hot run. Starting with a birdie 3 at No. 4, Katsu was 9 under over her final 15 holes in a stretch that included an eagle 3 at No. 6. "Made two bogeys on the first three holes, but after that I was really focused on my swing," Katsu said. "I just had a really good image of my swing, and I kept that going, and here I am." World No. 1 Nelly Korda stumbled to a 2-under 74 on Saturday to leave her at even par for the tournament in a tie for 36th place. England's Lottie Woad, who turned pro last week then won the Women's Scottish Open, shot a 1-under 71 and is at 3 under for the weekend to sit in a seven- way tie for 11th place.
