Hot Aussie trio deserves Sirikit stripes

Australia chose an in-form team in March to challenge the prestigious Queen Sirikit Cup on its own soil.

The Asia-Pacific Women's Team Championship is organized by the perfectly presented Glenelg Golf Club from 4-6 March when the best amateur players in the region reach our shores for the first time since 2006 at nearby Royal Adelaide.

The Australian team consists of the Victorian Julienne Soo and the duo Doey Choi from New South Wales and Steph Kyriacou.

The team is managed by Stacey Peters, the female pathway manager of Golf Australia, and is coached by South Australian Sarah King, a former top amateur who is now a teacher at the guest club.

Peters said she had high hopes for the Aussie women after some great results from all three players in recent events.

"It will be exciting to take an in-form team to Glenelg and test us against the best in our region," Peters said.

"It will also be a huge advantage if Sarah is with us." Nobody knows Glenelg better than she, given that she has taught and played there for the past 10 years

"This is the first time that one of these young women has played games in a Queen Sirikit Cup, to say that they are excited is an understatement."

Soo, 21, of Victoria Golf Club, has been Australia's top rated amateur last year and has spent the past three years at Oklahoma University in the United States.

Soo graduated in May and was overjoyed with her selection

"This is my first time playing at this event, and I would not be happier to do it at home in Australia while I was playing alongside some great friends of mine who have been in a great shape," she said.

"With the event in Adelaide, it will be a great opportunity for us to get some home care, and the possibility that my family comes out also excites me.

"I have spent a lot of time in Adelaide, but have never had the chance to play Glenelg, so my practice rounds will be important and I want to go there."

Choi, 18, a member of Concord, was co-minds with Australian Amateur last week and was delighted to be elected.

"It is a great honor and I have the privilege to represent Australia for the first time in the Queen Sirikit Cup," she said.

"This will be a first-class pitch and will play against some of the best in our region.

"Having it in our own country is quite amazing, especially since I've played Glenelg a few times and I'm confident in my game, so I'm excited to put it to the test."

Kyriacou, 18, a member at St Michael, is also fresh from a great result, after having won the recent Australian Master of the Amateurs.

"This is a great honor for me and I can not wait for the opportunity to work with Doey and Jules … I think we'll do well," she said.

"The NSW team did well last year in Glenelg in the Interstate Series and I know Doey and I really enjoyed the course, I can not wait to come back and represent my country."

King is "very excited" about the chances of the home team.

"I am looking forward to helping the girls with some knowledge of the course, also to show that it is organized in the club where I am located," she said.

"The girls have played solid golf, so it should be a good week."

The best two-stroke scores daily for each team count towards the Queen Sirikit team event, while an individual prize is also up for grabs.

Australia recently won the trophy in Taiwan in 2013 with Minjee Lee, Su Oh and Grace Lennon in green and gold.

The 41st staging of the tournament is the second as an allied event under the banner of the Asia-Pacific Golf Federation, with record notes expected from across the region.