South Korea’s Yunseo Yang wins Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Wellington, Kiwi Ryan Fox eyes strong finish at Pebble Beach

South Korea's Yunsea Yang in action during the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific at Royal Wellington. Photo / R&A

Teenager Yunseo Yang has become South Korea’s first champion at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific with an emphatic eight-stroke victory at the Royal Wellington Golf Club.

Yang finished at 16-under-par, following a three-under 69 in the final round despite gusting southerly winds to earn spots at three majors in 2026 – the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship.

The 18-year-old completed the wire-to-wire victory after opening with a 64 on Thursday. Yang ended eight strokes clear of compatriot Soomin Oh, matching the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) record winning margin set by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda in 2019.

Oh finished in second at eight-under, runners-up spot for the second year in succession, with Australia’s Jazy Roberts and Rianne Malixi of the Philippines tied for third at six-under. Malixi notched a record third top-five finish in the championship.

The distinction of finishing as leading New Zealander went to Darae Chung, who signed off with a 76, securing her 22nd place on five-over 293. That was one shot in front of top-ranked Kiwi Eunseo Choi and four ahead of Teresa Wang.

Wellington 13-year-old Elise Barber experienced her toughest day of the championship, with the youngest player firing an 11-over par final round to finish at 15-over and a tie for 44th.

Yang, who tied for fourth in last year’s WAAP in Vietnam, said “I’m very proud to be the first Korean winner. Having the opportunity to play in three major championships is an honour.”

On the PGA Tour, Aucklander Ryan Fox is positioned well for a strong finish at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California, the first of the $33 million signature events of the PGA Tour season.

Fox sits in a tie for 22nd place at 11-under, eight shots back from leader Akshay Bhatia of the USA.

The Kiwi fired a third round 69 at Pebble Beach Golf Links after another strong start with three birdies on the opening nine. A bogey at the 10th and a birdie at the par five 14th saw him close out with a three-under round.

Fox will play with Americans Harris English and Max Greyserman in the final round.

Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, another American, had the round of the day, shooting a 10-under 62 to leap into a share of second, two back from Bhatia.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is also on 11-under with Fox.

On the LIV Tour, nearing the end of the final round at the LIV Golf Adelaide event, Kiwi Ben Campbell was sitting in a share of 20th place, eight back from leaders Jon Rahm and American Anthony Kim.