Asia-Pacific Amateur, Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific canceled for 2020

The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship was supposed to be played in mid-February, and as such was one of the first tournaments to go into limbo as the coronavirus began to spread early in 2020. That tournament was officially canceled on July 7, along with the men’s version of the event, the Asia-Pacific Amateur, which would have been played Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

The women’s event was to take place at Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand. After its early February postponement, it was rescheduled for Oct. 7-10, but that is now off the table, too. The 2021 event will be played at the same venue on Feb. 4-7, 2021.

The Asia-Pacific Amateur would have revisited Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia – returning to that recent Presidents Cup venue for the first time since 2014 – but a venue has not yet been announced for 2021.

“Our highest priority is the health and safety of our players, officials and everyone throughout the world involved in running these great championships,” said Taimur Amin, Chairman of the APGC. “Given the ongoing concerns and global impacts of this pandemic, we determined with our respective partners that these events unfortunately could not proceed as planned this year.

“My sympathies are with all the players who were looking forward to participating. They can rest assured that, together with our partners, we will continue to provide these life-changing opportunities when it is safe to do so. We are grateful to everyone involved in the staging of both championships for their understanding and shared dedication to our mission, and we look forward to continuing our work together to advance the game throughout the Asia-Pacific.”

Both events can be game-changing for all participants, not to mention the winner. The Asia-Pacific Amateur was established to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region. The champion receives an invitation to compete in the Masters Tournament and the British Open, while the runner(s)-up gain a place in Final Qualifying for the British Open.

The women’s version of the event was played for the first time in 2018. Its winner earns invitations to play in the AIG Women’s British Open and the Evian Championship, as well as an exemption into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.