MANILA -- Young Filipina golfer Rianne Malixi finished in joint third at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific on Sunday, with Korea's Yang Yunseo emerging triumphant at the Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand.
Yang, 18, completed a wire-to-wire triumph with her 16-under 272 aggregate. She also equaled the championship record for biggest margin of victory held by Yuka Yasuda of Japan (2019).
Malixi finished tied third for her third top-5 finish in the prestigious championship after closing with a 75. She ended 10 shots back of the new champion in what was the eighth edition of the WAAP.
READ: Rianne Malixi still in title hunt at Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
Under blustery and testing conditions, Yang was at her composed best to fire the day's lowest round as she held off last year's runner-up and fellow Korean, Oh Soomin, who shot a 75.
Oh started the day just two back and went toe-to-toe with Yang for much of the final round until the pivotal 14th hole, where she double bogeyed while Yang knocked in a glorious eagle to eventually cruise to a commanding victory.
Malixi could not narrow the gap on the leader after starting the final round four strokes back. Under gusty conditions, an outward 39 which featured one birdie, two bogeys and a double bogey saw her fighting for a top-3 finish at the end.
"We got like bad weather … finally showed its teeth, so it was really struggling today. I hit a lot of good low shots, couple of bad ones. Putting was also a struggle. I couldn't get any of my putts to drop," said Malixi, the 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur champion.
The highlight of Malixi's day was an eagle on 10 where she converted a lengthy putt following a wonderful hybrid approach from 215 yards out. But she knew by then her chance of trying to become the first Filipina golfer to win the WAAP was over.
"I was like far back heading into the last round, and there is always like a chance, but I didn't really capitalize today," said Malixi, who spent much of 2025 on the sidelines with a back injury.
READ: After injury-hit 2025, Pinay golfer Rianne Malixi on the comeback trail
"I'm glad to be playing in a really good event since the past year and a half maybe since my injury. I'm happy and grateful. I'm looking forward for what's in store for me. It sucks I couldn't really back a win, but I'm looking forward to the upcoming season."