This week’s winner will earn a place at two majors, the Amundi Evian Championship and AIG Women’s Open, and like Harrison Crowe will be Augusta, Georgia bound with a start at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur plus the Hana Financial Group Championship in South Korea.

Again, the Aussies are a chance with six starters, including 2021 runner-up Kelsey Bennett and ANWA 2021 competitor Kirsten Rudgeley, while the US Amateur champion and World No.4 Saki Baba of Japan headlines the field.

About an hour down the coast near Pattaya, the expansive Siam Country Club hosts this week as The R&A takes over complete running of things without The Masters tournament as was the case last week at Amata Spring.

This event already having a World No.1 in 2018 winner Atthaya Thitikul, and major winners Yuka Saso and Patty Tavatanakit as past competitors.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: In something of a rare occurrence in amateur golf, the 2021 winner, Mizuki Hashimoto of Japan, will actually defend her title in Thailand this week.

RIGHT: Hashimoto poses with the trophy in 2021 in Abu Dhabi. PHOTO: R&A.

Unlike the majority of players who win a high profile amateur tournament on their way to a professional career, Hashimoto has stayed in the unpaid ranks and will look to become the first ever back-to-back WAAP winner.

In 2021 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, it was consistency that earned the now World No.18 the title, Hashimoto recording four rounds of 68 for a one shot lead over Kan Bunnabodee and Natthakrita Vongtaveelap of Thailand and Australia’s Bennett.

Vongtaveelap and Bennett also both in the field again this week.

It was the former who led after 54-holes last year, but her three shot margin wasn’t enough after her bogey-free run ended at 58 holes.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

COURSE: Siam Country Club will be a familiar name to fans of the women’s game as host of the LPGA Tour each year on its Old Course.

But it is a different layout that welcomes Asia-Pacific’s best amateurs, the WAAP taking place on the club’s Waterside Course down the road from the Old.

The two layouts are part of 99 holes that comprise Siam Country Club, with the Waterside opening in 2014 and the result of a design by IMG Golf Course Design.

Unsurprisingly given its name, Waterside features the worst kind of hazard throughout the round. PHOTO: David Paul Morris/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

Tipping out at 7,400 yards, the par-72 will measure 6,309 yards, or 5,768 metres, this week, with unsurprisingly based off its name, plenty of water in play. In fact the aquatic hazard comes into at the very least field of vision for players of this level on more than half the holes.

A fairly flat piece of land has been made more interesting with trees, bunkering and man-made undulations, while it is the front nine that will likely prove most troublesome this week.

Speaking with numerous coaches ahead of Thursday’s opening round, the hidden hazards over the back of the steeply dropping away putting surfaces could play a significant role in things over the early parts of the round.

Holes 10-15 shouldn’t pose too many problems, but the closing trio is a fearsome prospect with the tournament on the line.

A 150-metre par-3 over water is followed by a water lined two shotter of 329 metres, then the final hole features water all the way down the entirety of its left side. The 479 metre journey perhaps offering the occasional chance at eagle when downwind, however there is potential to be above par if finding the wrong position from the tee.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: It is impossible to go past Japan’s Saki Baba to lead things off here.

Still just 17, she claimed the US Women’s Amateur in dominating fashion at Chambers Bay in August.

US Women's Amateur winner Saki Baba headlines the field this week in Thailand. PHOTO: David Paul Morris/R&A/R&A via Getty Images.

Tall and rangy, she lists Nelly Korda as her golfing idol, and suggests they own similar games. If the comparison is anything close to correct and she brings her form from America with her, it might be a case of not if but by how much here.

Leading the Aussie charge is a pair of close friends that refer to themselves as “Double trouble”.

Kelsey Bennett was the runner-up at this event last year, and if she doesn’t follow the lead of fellow St Michael’s Golf Club member and John Serhan student Crowe, will be joining the pro ranks by the end of the year.

Hailing from Mollymook, Bennett has an impressive all-round game and is comfortable in her role as the leader of a young Aussie team.

Her roommate for the week, Kirsten Rudgeley, continues to impress at every turn in her burgeoning career.

Winner of the English Women’s Amateur last year, Rudgeley was tied for eighth at Augusta National earlier this year and won The Athena at home.

Now reunited with her clubs that failed to make it to Bangkok alongside her, her fifth time having a luggage issue this year, Rudgeley made a hole-in-one during Wednesday practice at the 2nd hole, perhaps an omen for the week.

The defending champion Hashimoto has to be considered a chance given she saw off the best of the region last year.

Claiming the individual title at the Queen Sirikit Cup back in May, she hasn’t lost that winning spark.

Natthakrita Vongtaveelap, nicknamed ‘Sim 300’ for her ability to launch 300 yard drives will lead the home hopes after her runner-up finish last year.

She is a frequent winner at home and knows the Waterside Course decently well, something that should be an advantage after Thailand hopes their local chance goes a little better than last week up the road in Chonburi.

Although not playing for Australia, Jeneath Wong is in the field representing Malaysia, where she was born.

A frequent back in Australia where she resides, Wong is a sneaky chance here, the five-time Metropolitan Golf Club Women’s Champion’s third at the South East Asian Games this year a good indicator.

Aloysa Atienza was second there and could be a chance this week, while Oklahoma State University student Maddison Hinson-Tolchard plays her third WAAP and could be Australia’s sneaky chance.

72-HOLE RECORD: 272 (Mizuki Hashimoto, 2021)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winner.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Kelsey Bennett, Kirsten Rudgeley, Sarah Hammett, Justice Bosio, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Caitlin Pierce.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 4pm – 8pm)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 4pm – 8pm)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 5:30pm – 7pm)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 5pm – 7pm)
*AEDT, check local guides