Strong winds blow away Malixi’s WAAP chances

What looked like a promising run ended in a heartbreak as Rianne Malixi struggled with seven bogeys to close with a three-over par 75 for a share of third in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship on Sunday at the Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand.

Battling strong winds and intense pressure, the 18-year-old Duke University standout failed to capitalize on her earlier momentum as she posted a total of six-under 282 to share the third place with Australian Jazy Roberts, who had a blistering front nine en route to closing with a two-under 70.

Yang Yunseo of South Korea emerged victorious after closing with a three-under 69 for an impressive total of 16-under 272 — eight strokes ahead of second-placer Oh Sooming in this prestigious event that featured 84 players from 25 Asia Pacific countries.

Aside from cliching one of the most prestigious continental titles in the amateur ranks, the 18-year-old from Incheon also secured her slot in three Ladies Professional Golf Association events — the AIG Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Championship and Chevron Championship — later this year.

Yang, whose victory matched the biggest winning margin in the tournament’s history, also received an exemption into the women’s Australian Open that will be played at the Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide from 12 to 15 March.

It was certainly a bad day for Malixi as wind gusts were said to be at 50 miles per hour, temperatures in the mid-teens and rain late in the day that made pars invaluable and birdies rare.