2 weeks Ago By TAN MING WAI
KUALA LUMPUR: Golfer Jeneath Wong is ready to make a big impression on her debut at the Chevron Championship which begins in the United States tomorrow (April 24).The tournament — the first of five majors on the LPGA Tour — will take place at The Club at Carlton Woods in Texas, offering a world-class stage for the 20-year-old Malaysian rising star.Jeneath secured her spot in the elite 132-player field by winning the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Hoi An, Vietnam last month.
She will be one of only eight amateurs teeing off alongside the game's biggest names — including world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul and New Zealand's Lydia Ko — in the US$8 million (RM35.26 million) showcase.
Her presence also ensures Malaysia will be represented on the LPGA Tour for the first time this season, albeit in a one-off appearance for now.This marks Jeneath's second major championship appearance following her debut at the 2023 US Women's Open, where she missed the halfway cut by just three shots after qualifying through sectional play."It's going to be my first appearance at the Chevron Championship and I'm looking forward to it!" said Jeneath recently.
"It'll be fun and I just want to soak up the experience and learn from playing with the LPGA players, who I want to compete with in the future."Currently in her third year at Pepperdine University in California, Jeneath is enjoying a strong run of form. She finished a commendable third at the West Coast Conference Championship recently, further fueling her confidence after her WAAP triumph.
"My confidence has definitely increased following my WAAP victory," she added.Jeneath becomes only the fourth Malaysian to play in the Chevron Championship after Lim Siew Ai, Kelly Tan, and Natasha Andrea Oon. Of the trio, Kelly has the most appearances (five), with her best result being a tied-37th finish in 2020.
As the reigning WAAP champion, Jeneath's schedule will only get busier. She's also earned invitations to two other majors — the Amundi Evian Championship in July and the AIG Women's Open in August.Despite the challenges of juggling a packed playing calendar with her academic responsibilities, Jeneath is grateful for the support she's receiving.
"It will definitely be tough managing my time with all the big tournaments and college events, not to mention missing classes, but my school has been very supportive. They are helping me the best they can with everything," noted Jeneath.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
