Pepperdine junior Jeneath Wong made a habit of finishing strong.
The 20-year-old from Malaysia had birdied the 17th and 18th holes at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam twice during the first three rounds of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific. Little did she know she would need to be stellar down the stretch yet again for a life-changing victory.
Wong became the first Malaysian to win WAAP, making a clutch par putt on the 16th before sticking her approach shot close on the par-3 17th to tie the lead. Wong then buried an 5 footer for birdie on the closing 18th to finish at 18-under 266, the lowest winning total in WAAP history.
“It feels unbelievable, and I’m actually still in shock that it happened,” Wong said.
THE WINNING MOMENT
Jeneath Wong birdies the last to win the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific 🏆 pic.twitter.com/H1InmWD831
— Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Golf Championship (@WAAPGolf) March 9, 2025
Wong was born in Kuala Lumpur but moved to Australia when she was 10. After she poured in the winning putt, she was swarmed by Australian players and friends before fellow Malaysians celebrated with her the same way.
With the victory, Wong earns exemptions in the AIG Women’s Open and Amundi Evian Championship this summer and the Chevron Championship next month. Additionally, Wong also earned the final spot in the field at next month’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“I never imagined winning this tournament,” Wong said. “I just like wanted to finish well. Winning it just really accomplished it, but since this is like a links course I guess I’m kind of used it playing in Australia.”
Wong used a local caddie all week, and she credited her father and family as big reasons she was able to get such a monumental victory.
Although she’s looking forward to turning pro down the road, she isn’t in a rush to leave college and amateur golf behind.
“I think my game is definitely heading in the right direction,” Wong said. “But I think I’m planning to turn pro maybe after college. Just get my education done first.”
The 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific will be in Wellington, New Zealand.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jeneath Wong wins Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific 2025, major exemptions
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