WOMEN'S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

March 9, 2025

Jeneath Wong

Press Conference

OLIVIA McMILLAN: Jeneath, firstly, a huge congratulations. You are our 2025 Women's Amateur Asia Pacific champion. How does it feel hearing those words?

JENEATH WONG: It feels unbelievable and I'm actually still in shock that it happened.

OLIVIA McMILLAN: It's going to be really, really big year ahead for you. Has that sort of started to sink in, that you're going to be playing in three majors this year?

JENEATH WONG: Not really, but I'm really looking forward to playing those.

Q. You're going to have a lot of rewards, benefits, (Regarding planning for it.)

JENEATH WONG: No idea, but I probably would have to try to balance it with college, too, so with studies.

Q. Can you give us some background about yourself? We know you were born in Malaysia and moved to Australia when you were ten and pretty much have grown up there. Now in your third year at university. Tell us a little bit about your development and maybe also what your future plans are.

JENEATH WONG: I started golf at the age of three when I was in Malaysia and then I moved to Australia when I was ten years old just to pursue in my golfing career. I'm a junior at Pepperdine University. My goal for the future is to play on the LPGA Tour. That's one of the main goals.

Q. Tell us a little bit more about playing in Australia and Malaysia. Were you in Kuala Lumpur? Likewise, in Australia. Which part of Australia?

JENEATH WONG: Yeah, I was born in Kuala Lumpur and I was a member at KLGCC, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, and then in Australia I'm a member at Metropolitan Golf Club.

OLIVIA McMILLAN: Can you talk to us about today what's the kind of one moment that really stands out in your mind when you're thinking back over your round?

JENEATH WONG: Probably hole 17. I didn't realize how close my ball ended up. It was kind of like a blind shot from the tee, so I never expected it to be that close.

Q. What club did you hit off the tee?

JENEATH WONG: Oh, soft 7.

Q. What was the distance?

JENEATH WONG: It was 123 meters.

Q. When you putted out on the 18th green you were first mobbed by the Aussie players and then the Malaysian players. So just talk us through your feelings, just what emotions are running through.

JENEATH WONG: I guess kind of relief that the putt went in on the last. From then on, it was just kind of like shocked. And just being the first Malaysian to win this tournament is just really amazing.

Q. You mentioned 17 putt. Pretty big one on 16, 17, 18. Take us through that closing stretch and the mindset that you had to come out and win the championship.

JENEATH WONG: Over the past few days I think towards the end of the holes I started to pick up on the birdies, so today I wasn't too stressed about coming to the last few holes. I knew that a few birdies could like creep in, so I was really happy to see that 17 was close and 18 I could secure that last birdie.

Q. How important was that par putt on 16?

JENEATH WONG: Oh, very important.

Q. And finally from me, today, what was your mindset going into that knowing there would be a lot of (indiscernible.)

JENEATH WONG: I didn't really think much about it but I know that they do hit further than me, but I didn't really like pay attention to their game. I just kind of stick to my own game.

Q. Congratulations. You're now heading to Royal Wellington as the defending champion. Have you been to New Zealand before?

JENEATH WONG: I've been on holiday but not for golf.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about Royal Wellington? Have you heard much about that golf course?

JENEATH WONG: No, but definitely looking forward to just playing in New Zealand, just a new country to play at.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your coaches you've had in the past few years, including college, in Australia, maybe in Malaysia when you are just growing up?

JENEATH WONG: Growing up I didn't really have a golf coach. My main golf coach was my dad. My swing is kind of like homemade I guess. It's not perfect in any way.

And my coach at Pepperdine is Laurie Gibbs, and she's helped me with my mindset.

Q. Do you know that you have a very unique grip?

JENEATH WONG: Yeah.

Q. Has anyone tried to talk you out of it or change it?

JENEATH WONG: Yeah, there has been a few people that said my strong grip can be like bad, but I don't really listen to them and I can't really fix it anyway.

So I just kind of deal with it.

Q. Can you tell us were you confident coming into this week? And when you first saw the course, did you immediately feel that it was kind of the place where you could and would play well?

JENEATH WONG: I never imagined winning this tournament. 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.

There is a lot of links courses in the wind.

Q. You didn't feel intimidated at any time today by the two Koreans who sometimes were hitting past you or the two of them were on the green? You looked composed all the way.

JENEATH WONG: Yeah, I try to stick to my own game plan knowing their game is completely different to mine.

Q. It's not the first time you played in Vietnam. (Regarding three years ago.) So what do you think about when you play in the condition, everything about Vietnam?

JENEATH WONG: I really like Vietnam. I think I play pretty well here. In the last SEA Games I came bronze for Malaysia, so that was good. And I just really like the courses in Vietnam, the grass and the layout.

Q. (Indiscernible.) In a way perhaps you've had your best of many worlds. Do you think that helped you develop?

JENEATH WONG: Yeah, I think growing up in Malaysia just getting to play all those Asian courses has helped me as well as playing in Australia, getting to know the wind with the link courses.

So I think growing up in different places really helped my game.

Q. (Regarding how college has helped.)

JENEATH WONG: College has prepared me to change my mindset and to rather than always pin hunting just find the middle of the green.

Q. You mentioned that you like playing links courses from playing in Australia. You'll be playing in Royal Porthcawl for the AIG Women's Open then up in Scotland for the Women's Amateur. What is your experience playing links golf in the UK, if any, and what are you looking forward to?

JENEATH WONG: I think just the creativity of golf being creative with different shots and how to factor the winds and conditions to just try to fit into your game.

Q. Have you played in the UK before?

JENEATH WONG: I played Royal Portrush in 2018 so that was a really good experience.

Q. What is it about your short game that suits links golf?

JENEATH WONG: I think I have quite a variety of shots. I can play high, flop shots, low shots. I think just knowing different kinds of shots will like be suitable for different conditions.

Q. Congratulations. Who do you dedicate this victory to? Who has been your strongest supporter throughout your journey?

JENEATH WONG: Definitely be my dad and my family. My dad has sacrificed a lot of his time and effort for me to play in different countries and to play college.

So he's done a lot for me.

Q. What's your message to young golfers out there across Asia, especially in Malaysia?

JENEATH WONG: Just try to play golf. It's a fun game. Doesn't matter if you don't hit it far because you can focus on your short game and still get there.

OLIVIA McMILLAN: I noticed today that all week you had a local how Hoiana Shores Golf Club caddie. She looked like a lot of fun. What was her name, and how did she help you on the course this week?

JENEATH WONG: Her name is Thuong. She really helped me keep calm throughout my game. She was a great caddie. She knows a lot about the course. She's been here for six years, so I relied on her quite a bit this week.

Q. You talked a lot about your game. Do you feel you have the game already that would be able to succeed as a professional? Do you have any plans in your mind about when would be the right time for you to turn pro?

JENEATH WONG: I think my game is definitely heading in the right direction. Maybe a bit more gym work or something to get me hitting a bit further.

But I think I'm planning to turn pro maybe after college. Just get my education done first.

OLIVIA McMILLAN: Jeneath, thank you for joining us this week. A very massive congratulations from us to you. Look forward to watching you at the AIG Women's Open in Royal Porthcawl.

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