Perth-based Tatiana Wijaya earned redemption and starts in every event on the 2025 WPGA Tour of Australasia schedule with a commanding victory at Qualifying School.

Less than 12 months after finishing third-last 23 strokes from the winner at the 2024 Qualifying School, Wijaya returned to Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club to win by six strokes from American Jennifer Koga (74) with Coffs Harbour’s Amelia Mehmet-Grohn (71) and Japan’s Hinata Ikeba (72) sharing third place at 1-over par.

Two-under after Round 1, Wijaya produced a superb 4-under 68 in Round 2 to finish at 6-under for 36 holes, she and Koga separated by just one stroke as they made the turn.

A recent graduate of Sacramento State University, Koga dropped four shots in her final seven holes but did enough to secure outright second and status for the 2025 season.

An Indonesian national who played junior golf in Perth before attending Pepperdine University in the United States, Wijaya has been back in Western Australia for the past year and plays out of Royal Fremantle Golf Club.

As the host venue for next week’s Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee, it provides the ideal opportunity to start her season on the right note.

“I’m just excited to not have to stay in a hotel and just play at my home course,” said Wijaya.

“Last year here I think I almost came second last so it was a good redemption.

“This definitely makes scheduling a lot easier, but the more importantly is that I showed myself that I could do it again.

“It’s not a relief, but it’s just like, yeah, see you did it. You can do it. Mentally, it’s good.”

Moving to Australia at the start of high school, Wijaya attended Shenton College in Perth between 2008-2012, playing her junior golf out of Cottesloe Golf Club and under the tutelage of David Milne.

It was there that she played against the likes of Hannah Green, Su Oh and Minjee Lee, whose tournament she will be trying to win next week.

“I actually just saw Min Woo last week right when we left,” she added.

“I hadn’t seen him in like eight years. Was so tall. He’s still the same Min Woo.

“You always comes to a tournament expecting to play well, but the best golf comes when you just take it one shot at a time. At least for me.

“And same mindset, it’s just another tournament, another round. The more I can do better at that, the better I play.”

Mehmet-Grohn’s round of 1-under 71 moved her up four spots into a share of third, securing the top-five finish that earns her a better Category and almost certainly starts in each of the three tournaments co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour in March.

Teenage amateur and overnight leader Michelle Bang dropped into a tie for fifth with a round of 5-over 77 on Tuesday, good enough to earn full status when she turns professional in February.

Final scores