Xingtong Chen of Singapore will compete in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship when it is played at Royal Wellington from 12-15 February. -- Photo credit: The R&A
WELLINGTON, New Zealand: The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will showcase the depth of emerging female golf talent when it is staged at Royal Wellington Golf Club from February 12-15.
As the renowned New Zealand venue prepares to host four days of world-class amateur golf, the WAAP highlights the talent, ambition, and diversity that define the region’s future stars.
Among those returning is Singapore’s Chen Xingtong, who will make her fifth appearance at the championship. A consistent performer at WAAP, Chen made history last year as the first Singaporean to reach the final of the US Girls’ Junior Championship and believes the experience gained through repeated exposure to elite competition has been central to her development. Her recent participation in the WAAP Academy at Royal Wellington has provided further valuable preparation ahead of the championship.
Chen is joined in the WAAP field by fellow Singaporeans: Aamiya Koul, Amelie Bloosom Ng, Sydnie Ng and Inez Ng who is competing for a record sixth time.
China’s contingent arrives in New Zealand carrying strong momentum, underlined by recent success on the CLPG Tour. Sixteen-year-old Ren Yijia made history last week by becoming the first amateur to claim four victories on China’s domestic professional Tour, securing a wire-to-wire win at the Orient Ningbo Challenge.
She is joined at Royal Wellington by Liu Yujie, who recorded her breakthrough CLPG Tour victory last August, reinforcing the growing strength and depth of China’s amateur ranks and their readiness to compete at the highest level.
As well as Ren and Liu, China will be represented by Zhou Shiyuan, An Tong, and Menghan Li. Zhou (21st), Liu (46th) and Ren (49th) are all in the top-50 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®.
Indonesia’s Bianca Naomi Laksono will make her championship debut, inspired by the achievements of Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion. Thitikul’s rise from WAAP winner to world number one has become one of the defining success stories of the championship and continues to motivate players across the region.
Laksono hopes her appearance can further elevate the profile of women’s golf in Indonesia and contribute to the championship’s legacy of shaping the future.
Also representing Indonesia are Gemilau Joanna Kurnia, Abigail Rhea Soeryo Wiharko, and Thea Jessica Tan.
Fresh from winning the Trang An – AJGA International Pathway Series tournament last week, Vietnam’s Le An Chuc also returns with a clear ambition. Currently the country’s highest-ranked female amateur, Chuc has steadily progressed on the international stage and produced her strongest WAAP performance to date last year.
She views the championship, where she is the sole Vietnamese representative in 2026, as a key opportunity to test herself against the region’s best and to inspire continued growth of the women’s game in Vietnam.
Australia arrives in Wellington with strong depth and momentum, led by Raegan Denton, who has enjoyed an impressive run of form highlighted by victory at the prestigious Australian Master of the Amateurs, where she claimed the women’s title against a high-quality field. Her recent success, combined with consistent performances across elite amateur events, reflects the strength of Australia’s development pathway and positions her as a player to watch in Wellington.
Denton is joined by a group of highly regarded Australian amateurs, including Ella Scaysbrook, Rachel Lee, Shyla Singh, Grace Rho, and Jazy Roberts, who finished tied fourth last year.
Like Denton, Scaysbrook will not be short of confidence in New Zealand, having successfully defended her Avondale Bowl title in Sydney last week.
Malaysia’s Jeneath Wang, who became the first golfer from her country to win the championship in Vietnam last year, will defend her title at Royal Wellington as she seeks to become the first player to win back-to-back WAAP titles.
The field features 84 players from 26 Asia-Pacific nations who will assemble in Wellington, reflecting both the championship’s competitive strength and its growing regional reach. To view the full field for the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, visit randa.org.
The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage, and the rewards on offer are significant. The champion will earn exemptions into three major championships in 2026, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, the Amundi Evian Championship in France, and the Chevron Championship in the United States.
The Key Stars
Chen Xingtong, Singapore
Xingtong Chen of Singapore.“I’m very excited for the 2026 WAAP, especially after the amazing opportunity at the WAAP Academy, where I was able to play and experience the course. Also, the SEA Games team's silver medal gives me confidence that I hope to bring to Royal Wellington.
“The opportunity to compete against and learn from the top amateurs in the Asia-Pacific region has definitely helped me in my growth and development as a golfer. I’ve learnt to play in many different conditions and to perform under pressure, which is crucial in golf.”
Ren Yijia, China
Ren Yijia of China.“This is my second time competing in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, and compared to last year, my game has become more mature. I am going to participate in a training camp organised by the China Golf Association for the national youth team in the coming days. So I will prepare for the championship more thoroughly, be focused on playing each shot well, and not get too caught up in thinking about the title or the final result.
“I’ve visited New Zealand for leisure before—my mom has taken me traveling around the world since I was little. I loved it so much.”
Bianca Naomi Laksono, Indonesia
“I have always wanted to play in this championship. In my opinion, the WAAP has had a strong impact on women’s golf in Indonesia. The level of competition is very high with many top-ranked players, and it motivates Indonesian golfers to work harder and raise our standards.
“I watched her (Jeeno) when she was still an amateur. She inspired me to learn more about the game and to strive to become a better golfer.”
Chuc Le An, Vietnam
Le An Chuc of Vietnam“Competing in the WAAP has played a huge role in my development as a golfer. Playing against the best amateurs in Asia-Pacific has helped me improve not only my technical skills but also my mental strength and course management. Having my best finish in Vietnam (in 2025) was very special, and it gave me a lot of confidence that I’m moving in the right direction.
“It would mean everything to me (to win the WAAP) and would be a huge milestone for Vietnamese golf. Seeing a first Malaysian winner last year was very inspiring, and it shows how much golf in our region is growing."
Raegan Denton, Australia
Raegan Denton of Australia.“I’m really excited. It’s a championship that I’ve been striving for the last few years now. I just missed out last year, which was a bit of a bummer. But to finally make the team is really exciting and I think the team’s looking really strong.
“Obviously, I have expectations of myself and what I would consider a good score and a bad score on the day. But overall, I really just have one goal in mind, which is trying to do my best, which hopefully has me holding a trophy at the end of the championship.”
Note: The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship has been developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage and the opportunity to play in three major championships.
The eighth edition of the region's premier women's championship will be played at Royal Wellington in New Zealand from 12-15 February 2026. The 2026 WAAP champion will earn starts in the AIG Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship, and The Chevron Championship, as well as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS Handa Australian Open, The 123rd Women's Amateur Championship, and an invitation to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA).
