Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Academy Lifts Regional Talent
Young golfers from across the Pacific seize rare elite support as Royal Wellington prepares to host February’s championship.
Seoul, Korea - A diverse group of emerging golfers has completed the second Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Academy in Wellington, gaining rare access to high-performance coaching ahead of next February’s Championship at Royal Wellington.
The Academy, delivered by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, was created to strengthen pathways for players who may not otherwise encounter elite training environments. Its latest cohort brought together promising golfers from New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Asia, all seeking to sharpen their games for one of the region’s most important amateur events.
Tyanna Jacot, the 17-year-old left-hander from Guam, said the programme had already shifted her expectations: “The Academy has been amazing. It’s been hard work and I’ve learned a lot… my short game, my long game, the mental side of golf, and also the physiotherapy side of things and how to maintain your body.” She added that early insight into Royal Wellington will give her an advantage when the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific begins on 12 February: “I can already tell what the weather’s going to be like and how it’s going to play.”
Samoa’s Faith Vui echoed the pride of representing a small nation on a significant stage: “I am very proud to represent my country… It’s just great to carry my flag on my shoulders and represent my people.” She hoped to embed the lessons from the Academy into both her golf and daily life, calling the experience “once in a lifetime”.
One of the most compelling stories came from Papua New Guinea’s Margaret Lavaki, 30, who has previously competed at WAAP but never made the cut. She embraced every element of the camp: “I’m the first Papua New Guinean lady to compete… and also the first one to come here to this academy – so it’s a good experience.” Lavaki said modern club-fitting technology had been a revelation: “Where I’m from you just get a club and you hit the ball… but with the technology these days, the club is suited for your swing.”
The Academy also featured a strong New Zealand contingent, including representatives of the New Zealand Māori Golf Association and junior players from Royal Wellington. Fiji’s Raina Kumar, the Philippines’ Junia Gabasa, Singapore’s Xingtong Chen and Sri Lanka’s Kaya Daluwatte rounded out a group that demonstrated the programme’s widening regional reach.
Dominic Wall, The R&A’s Regional Managing Director – Asia-Pacific, said the initiative continues to build momentum: “It is encouraging to see players from across the region engaging with world-class coaching… By providing these young women with access to the same high-performance environment they will encounter during the Championship, we are helping them build confidence, capability and ambition.”
Across the week, players worked with a specialist high-performance team including Technical Director John Crampton, short game coach Scott Barr, swing coach Andrew Welsford, data and Trackman specialist Ryan Lumsden and NZCIS strength and conditioning experts. Their collective guidance provided immediate improvements while setting foundations for long-term development.
As the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship approaches, the Academy’s influence is clear. It not only elevates performance but strengthens the sport’s grassroots by empowering players who often serve as the sole international representatives of their nations. Supported by The R&A Foundation and Samsung, this second edition has deepened opportunity across the Pacific and ensured that more young women can see a pathway into elite competition.