By Chuah Choo Chiang
Malaysia’s leading amateur golfers, led by Anson Yeo and Nateesh Ganesh, will arrive at Te Arai Links in New Zealand later this month with a bold ambition to make history at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship that would open the door to two of the sport’s most coveted stages, the Masters and The Open.
No Malaysian has won the Asia-Pacific Amateur since its inception in 2009, and the duo – along with Maverick Chua, Hariz Hezri, Afham Othman and Aiden Kei – are setting their sights on ending that drought when the 17th edition tees off from October 29 to November 1.
For Ganesh, the prize carries a great significance – the chance to become the first Malaysian to compete in the Masters at Augusta National.
“It would mean the world to me and my family … first Malaysian to get to the Masters,” said the 21-year-old, who is a junior at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Having competed in three consecutive editions between 2021 and 2023, Ganesh will head to Te Arai Links with greater confidence after winning the UC San Diego Invitational, an NCAA Division I event at Torrey Pines in March.
The victory has reshaped his outlook on the Championship, which he sees as a genuine pathway to competing on golf’s biggest stages.
“A couple of years ago, I’d say it’ll be a great experience to play in the tournament and fun to play cool courses,” said Nateesh. “But nowadays, I view it differently. If I win this, I get to play in the majors. As an amateur, it’s such an honour.
“The Asia-Pacific Amateur is a great opportunity to get to the top-tier.”
Nateesh Ganesh Prior Appearances
His ambition is rooted in the sacrifices made by his family to support his golfing journey, which began when he was just three years old. His father worked in the golf industry and watching Tiger Woods dominate the sport helped fuel his early passion.
“There were challenges but it provided the fire in me to try harder, to get better. My parents invested their time and money into me. That’s why they sent me to the U.S. and they are the reason why I’m doing this,” he said.
His victory at Torrey Pines has reinforced his self-belief that he can contend against elite opposition, who will include defending champion Fifa Laopakdee of Thailand, last year’s runner-up Taisei Nagasaki of Japan and highly-ranked contenders from Australia, New Zealand, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
“It was pretty sick to win at Torrey Pines, and I don’t know any other cool place to have done this. Some events humble you and some give you a boost. This one boosted my confidence for sure. If I am playing good golf, I feel I can beat anyone,” said Ganesh.
Yeo, Malaysia’s No. 1-ranked amateur, will carry the experience of four previous appearances including a career best T-21 in Dubai last year as he looks to launch a title challenge in New Zealand.
He believes a Malaysian breakthrough is within reach. “Being able to compete for the fifth time is something I’m very proud of. You play against the best amateurs from Asia-Pacific and the standard is extremely high,” said the 20-year-old Yeo.
“For a Malaysian to win the AAC, I think it is possible and I hope I am the first one to do it this year.”
"For a Malaysian to win the AAC, I think it is possible and I hope I am the first one to do it this year."
Sixteen-year-old Maverick Chua will also draw on valuable preparation at Te Arai Links earlier this year, when he attended the AAC Academy at the venue. He missed the halfway cut in his Championship debut last year but believes the experience helped him better understand the demands of competing against the region’s leading amateurs.
“It means a lot to me to play in the AAC for the second time,” he said. “I learned a lot from my first AAC in Dubai and I’m excited to come back and compete against some of the best amateur players in the region.”
His return to New Zealand carries added significance after participating in the AAC Academy at Te Arai Links, where he trained and played on the course while learning from coaches and fellow elite amateurs.
“The Academy was a really good experience. I got to train and play at Te Arai Links and learn more about the course. I also learned a lot about course management and got to spend time around other good players and coaches,” said Chua.
The experience has given him valuable insight into the challenges awaiting the field, particularly the need to make sound decisions in changing conditions.
“I really enjoyed playing Te Arai Links. It's a beautiful course but also very challenging. You have to think about where you want to hit your shots, and the wind can make a big difference,” he said. “I think it tests every part of your game.”
Also making his AAC debut is Aiden Kei, who arrives encouraged by his experience competing against Malaysia’s leading professionals. The 20-year-old has two victories that count towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking, including a domestic professional event in April in which he defeated Asian Tour winners Gavin Green and Ben Leong.
“Competing against the professionals and coming out on top gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities. It showed that my game can hold up under pressure,” he said. “More importantly, it taught me how to manage myself in stressful situations, which is something I've carried forward into every tournament since.”
Malaysia’s challenge also includes Hariz Hezri, who will make his third appearance, and Afham Othman, who will debut at the Championship. Together, the players will seek to build on the progress of Malaysian amateur golf against a strong international field.
Hariz Hezri of Malaysia plays a tee stroke on the No. 14 tee during the first round of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship being played at the Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Thursday 23 October 2025. Photograph by AAC.
In the history of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, Malaysia’s best finish has been recorded by Mohd Iszaimi Ismail (seventh/2009), Ervin Chang (seventh/2018) and Marcus Lim (T-7/2023).
Established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament, the AAC aims to develop amateur golf across the region and provide a pathway to the sport’s most prestigious championships.
