Honoured and humbled are two words to describe Steph Kyriacou’s emotions this week.
After finishing leading Australian at the recent Queen Sirikit Cup in Adelaide and a year of standout performances, the World No.188 finds herself in Japan ready for her next challenge.
Forming part of the six-strong Australian contingent at the second edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), Kyriacou also recognises the weight of donning her national colours.
“Whenever I represent Australia, it is an honour,” the 18-year-old said.
“To be able to travel overseas and play is pretty cool as well.
“I’m going against the best players in the world so it’s good to see where I am at.
“Playing in a team environment with the other girls is really good because golf is an individual sport so it’s good to have all the support and home energy around you.”
And the recent Australian Master of the Amateurs victor has proved herself in Japanese territory before.
Capping her first visit with an individual T5 finish and second in the team’s event at the Toyota World Junior Championships, the NSW high performance athlete is excited for what the week holds for her.
“My trip in 2017 was my first time overseas and representing Golf Australia so I was very nervous, but the experience was awesome.”
“And the course (this week) is honestly unreal,” she said during a practice round at The Royal Golf Club today.
“The greens are schmick and really cut down finely – they are rolling really well.
“The bunkers are awesome as well; you can nip the ball pretty good.”
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Teammate Doey Choi added that the greens will “make or break” the field.
“The course looks really tough and it’s not playing easy,” the World No.114 said.
“It’s in great condition but it’s playing long and there are a couple of holes which are pretty tricky.
“Usually my short game is pretty good and I think it will really come down to the putting this week just because the greens are so severe and big.”
The pair will be joined by their Queen Sirikit Cup counterpart Julienne Soo, as well as Becky Kay, Grace Kim, and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.
Live coverage of the 2019 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship starts on Thursday at 12pm on Fox Sports Australia.