Five future stars named in 2025 Athena lineup
The first group of five up-and-coming professional women’s golf stars has been locked in for the Athena Tournament this March.
The five Australians include first-time Athena participants Abbie Teasdale and Belinda Ji, and returnees from 2024 Claire Shin, Sarah Yamaki Branch and Danni Vasquez Boyd.
The two-day tournament, which is known for its balance of fierce competition in a fun and entertaining environment, will return to Peninsula Kingswood on Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt across March 1 and 2.
Teasdale, Shin, Ji, Yamaki Branch and Vasquez will form part of the 12-player field who will battle it out across nine golfing challenges to qualify for the four-hole stroke match play elimination matches on the on the final day.
To collect the winner’s cheque of $30,000, the champion is required to win three sudden-death match-ups in a row.
Abbie Teasdale, 22, claimed her first title in just her second pro start at the Drummond Golf Club Melbourne International at Latrobe Golf Club last month and currently leads the WPGA Order of Merit.
She turned pro having been one of West Australia’s leading amateurs for the past few years, including winning the English Women’s Strokeplay Championship and representing Australia at 2023 and 2024 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship.
Claire Shin claimed her maiden professional win at the Ford Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifying Event at Wagga Wagga Country Club in November.
The 19-year-old tied for third in the 2025 Drummond Golf Melbourne International in January and is currently ranked in 11th position for the Order of Merit.
After being crowned the 2024 South Australian Amateur Champion, Belinda Ji turned pro in January.
She is a former NSW State Amateur representative who won three Official World Golf Ranking events and had 17 top-10 finishes.
Sarah Yamaki Branch thrives in the Athena environment and after some solid finishes in recent weeks the Queenslander will be eager to walk away with the silverware in 2025.
At the recent Webex Players Series Murray River event, the 27-year-old Queenslander produced one of the tournament highlights with a hole-in-one on the ninth hole of Cobram-Barooga’s Old Course.
Danni Vasquez Boyd will return to The Athena after becoming the first woman to win an adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event in five years at Biloela in Central Queensland last year.
A graduate of the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program, the 25-year-old was also runner-up at the 2023 Australian Women’s Classic at Bonville.
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said she’s excited for The Athena to return for its fifth installment in 2025.
“The Athena is the perfect platform to showcase the outstanding Australian female golfers on the rise,” Lunn said.
“The tournament’s unique playing format provides the perfect stage to display the skills and athleticism of these talented athletes but is also a chance for the fans to get to know the players’ personalities and characters.
“Our star Australian golfers including LPGA stars Grace Kim, Steph Kiriacou, Cassie Porter and Karis Davidson, along with our 2022 Athena Champ Kirsten Rudgeley and last year’s winner Kelsey Bennett, have all had The Athena as part of their journeys to the international stage. It shows our next generation of players know what is possible for them.”
The final field for the event will be announced over the coming weeks.
The Athena Tournament will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo from 2pm to 6pm AEDT on Saturday and Sunday, while entry to the event is free.
2025 THE ATHENA FIELD
Abbie Teasdale
Claire Shin
Belinda Ji
Sarah Yamaki Branch
Danni Vasquez Boyd
FORMER CHAMPIONS
2024: Kelsey Bennett
2023: Grace Lennon (Vic)
2022: Kirsten Rudgeley (WA)
2021: Kristalle Blum (SA)