Miyazaki, Japan, May 13 — Rising Indian golf talent Zara Anand emerged as the top performer for India, finishing Tied-12th after the opening round of the prestigious Queen Sirikit Cup, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Ladies Golf Team Championship.
Zara carded a steady 1-over 73, highlighted by three birdies offset by four bogeys, two of which came late in the round on the 14th and 18th holes. Her performance placed her in a strong position heading into the second round of the elite 13-nation competition.
India’s other representatives, Heena Kang and Mannat Brar, faced a more challenging outing. Heena shot a 76 to settle at Tied-21st, with two birdies, four bogeys, and a double bogey. Mannat, meanwhile, finished at Tied-25th after registering a 77 that included two birdies, five bogeys, and a double bogey.
As a team, India stood Tied-seventh with a cumulative score of 5 over 149, derived from the top two individual scores.
Host Nation Japan Takes Early Lead
Hosts Japan made an impressive start in their quest to break their title drought at home. Aira Nagasawa and Anna Iwanaga fired 3-under 69s, putting Japan at the top of the leaderboard with a team total of 6-under 138. Defending champions Korea trailed closely by one stroke.Thailand followed in third place with a score of 143, while China (146), Hong Kong, China and Singapore (147), India and Vietnam (149), Australia and Indonesia (150), Chinese Taipei and Malaysia (151), and the Philippines (158) rounded out the leaderboard.
Individual Leaderboard: Trio Share Top Spot
On the individual front, Japan’s Nagasawa and Iwanaga were joined by Korea’s Oh Soo-min, currently ranked 10th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), at the top with matching 69s. Oh wants to retain the low individual title she secured in New Zealand last year.Several top contenders struggled to make an impact in the opening round. China LPGA Tour winners Zhou Shiyuan and Xu Ying returned 75s, while Thai standout Achiraya Sriwong and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi, ranked in the WAGR top-50, managed 76s. Last year’s runner-up, Australian Sarah Hammett, had a rough day, signing for an 83 that included a triple-bogey on the 16th.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Zara Anand to continue her strong form and lift India’s position in the standings.