Ashley Lau Explained

Ashley Lau Jen Wen
Birth Date:18 March 2000
Birth Place:Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Height:5 ft 5 in
College:University of Michigan
Yearpro:2022
Tour:Epson Tour
WPGA Tour of Australasia
Prowins:1
Alpgwins:1
Award1:Big Ten Golfer of the Year
Year1:2022

Ashley Lau (born 18 March 2000) is a Malaysian professional golfer who competes on the Epson Tour and WPGA Tour of Australasia.

Amateur career

Lau, born 2000, is from Bintulu in Sarawak, Malaysia. She became the first Sarawakian to top the national women's golf rankings, and later the first Sarawakian woman to turn professional.[1]

In 2015, Lau tied for 4th at the Australian Girls' Amateur. In 2016, she won the 2016 Katherine Kirk Classic and was runner-up at the Hills Australian Junior Championship. Lau tied for third at the 2017 Queensland Girls' Amateur Championship. In 2019, she was runner-up at the Orlando International Amateur Championship, and in 2021, runner-up at the Michigan PGA Women's Open.

Lau represented Malaysia at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, securing a silver medal in the team event at the latter together with Natasha Andrea Oon.[2]

Lau attended the Hills International prep academy in Queensland, Australia. She enrolled at University of Michigan in 2018 and played with the Michigan Wolverines women's golf team until 2022. She earned WGCA First Team All-American Honors and was named Big Ten Golfer of the Year in 2022.[3]

Lau was on the winning international team at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup, and finished 3rd at the 2022 Ann Arbor's Road to the LPGA on the Epson Tour.

Professional career

Lau turned professional in December 2022 and joined the 2023 Epson Tour.[4] In her rookie season, she recorded two top-10 finishes including a season-best 3rd place at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic.[5]

In February 2024, playing on the WPGA Tour of Australasia, she was runner-up at the Webex Players Series Victoria a stroke behind Kazuma Kobori, and won the Women's Victorian Open a stroke ahead of Jiyai Shin.[6] [7]

A few months ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Lau sat 52nd in the qualification rankings, on course to represent Malaysia in Paris alongside Natasha Andrea Oon.[8] [9]

Amateur wins

Source:[10]

Professional wins (1)

WPGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)

Team appearances

Amateur

Source:[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: Golf pro Bintulu lass eyes LPGA card, Olympics . Ting Tieng Hee . 28 February 2024 . The Borneo Post . 26 March 2024.
  2. Web site: 2019 SEA Games . Philippines 2019 30th SEA Games . 26 March 2024.
  3. Web site: Ashley Lau . San José State Spartans . 26 March 2024.
  4. Web site: Ashley Lau Bio . Epson Tour . 26 March 2024.
  5. News: Tan . Ming Wai . Ashley finally shows some sparks . 26 March 2024 . New Straits Times . 21 August 2023.
  6. News: Tan . Ming Wai . Ashley stuns former world No. 1 Ji Yai to win Victorian Open . 26 March 2024 . New Straits Times . 4 February 2024.
  7. News: Salvado . John . Malaysian golfer Ashley Lau salutes at the Vic Open . 26 March 2024 . The Camberra Times . 4 February 2024.
  8. Web site: IGF – Paris 2024 Olympic Golf Ranking Women's Competition . . 4 February 2024.
  9. News: Tan . Ming Wai . Golfer Ashley in contention for Olympic ticket after good run . 26 March 2024 . New Straits Times . 7 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Ashley Lau Jen Wen . World Amateur Golf Ranking . 26 March 2024.