WOMEN'S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

February 12, 2026

Rianne Malixi

Quick Quotes

Q. Rianne, welcome back to the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific. You're back. How good is it to be here again?

RIANNE MALIXI: It feels amazing. It's always a treat playing this championship. So, yeah, I'm really excited and really happy to play here again.

Q. Obviously last year was not how you wanted things to go. Was it extra special now to walk off after 18 holes and get the first round under your belt?

RIANNE MALIXI: Oh, yeah, definitely. I've recovered from my back injury, although it was like a struggle for my 2025 season. A lot of downs; a lot of negative self-talk; and didn't really play well until like last month, so I'll take it as it is.

And then I'm just willing to put in the hard work for this week.

Q. And you come into this week off a win over in the States in your college team. You must be feeling good, positive vibes come into this week?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah, definitely. I'm taking that with me everywhere I go, so I'm just going to do my best this week.

Q. You definitely brought it to the first hole. Started the championship here with an eagle. Tell us about that one.

RIANNE MALIXI: So, yeah, I was hitting it a ton shorter because yesterday it was blowing -- helping a lot but today it wasn't. So I hit a driver, 3-wood then left a 30-yard pitch shot and then hit my 48, bunker, and just rolled, and just went in.

So it was a good opening hole.

Q. Did you give that a big cheer when it went in?

RIANNE MALIXI: No, I try not to like show too much emotions out there. I think my mum was.

Q. That's nice. Always nice to have mum cheering.

RIANNE MALIXI: Uh-huh.

Q. Aside from your first hole there, what else was good about your round today?

RIANNE MALIXI: I would say it's really steady golf. I didn't make any bogeys until like my 16th or 17th hole, which is like 7 or 8.

Which I three putts from, but I was doing my best to just hit greens, trying to hit in my proximate dispersion, which I kind of like struggled today so I left a lot of longer putts. If I did hit my normal range then I would just leave it out there, good then better. But I think I played well despite that.

Q. Does that make you feel good knowing that tomorrow like there is still an even lower number out on Royal Wellington for you?

RIANNE MALIXI: If the wind doesn't blow then, yes. I'm seeing a lot of really low numbers. I think the course is really gettable. Well, the length itself is like only 6,300 yards, but I know it's going to get really difficult once the wind blows. I just have to take advantage if it's not blowing.

Q. Happy with how you started?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yes.