13-Year-Old Elise Excited at Late WAAP Call-Up

Wellington, New Zealand: Promising 13-year-old Elise Barber has been handed the final invite to the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship, which tees off at her home course, Royal Wellington Golf Club, on February 12.

The Queen Margaret College Year 9 student, who plays off a +2.3 handicap, fills a vacancy left by a late withdrawal and will become the youngest competitor in the field of 84 players from 25 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

When Barber received the news last Friday evening from The R&A her reaction was disbelief.

“You’re kidding me … no way! I couldn't believe it,” said Barber. “My dad told me straight away and my mum was right there, too. They were both super excited.”

For Barber, the invite represents a remarkable opportunity to compete against some of the region’s most accomplished amateur golfers on her home course.

“It helps a lot because I know the course well. I am familiar with the surrounds, so that gives me a bit more confidence,” she said.

Barber enters the WAAP following a strong 2025 season, having won the Australian Junior Age Division Championship (Girls 11–12), placing second in the New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play Championship – competing against seasoned adult golfers – and helping Wellington secure third place at the New Zealand Women’s Interprovincial Tournament.

“Playing well lately also makes me believe I can compete and enjoy the week,” she said.

The teenage Wellington golfer participated in the WAAP Academy in November 2025, where she trained alongside fellow Royal Wellington member Amy Yu and players from across the Pacific Islands region.

The week-long development programme provided access to world-class coaching in sport psychology, short game, swing technique and Trackman data analysis.

When asked about her feelings heading into the championship as the youngest player in the field, Barber admitted to a mix of emotions.

She said: “Definitely both excited and nervous. I am excited because it’s such a huge opportunity, but I am nervous because it’s the biggest event I have ever played in.

“Success for me would be playing confidently, sticking to my routines and enjoying the whole experience. If I do that, I will be happy.”

Barber joins a strong New Zealand contingent of 10 players including top-ranked Kiwi Eunseo Choi – 61st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) – who finished 13th at the 2025 championship, and Vivian Lu (103rd in the WAGR), who will make her sixth WAAP appearance.

She will also have the opportunity to play alongside and learn from the best players in the Asia-Pacific region including world number 11 Oh Soo-min from Korea, 2024 US Girls’ Junior and US Women’s Amateur champion Rianne Malixi of the Philippines, and defending champion Jeneath Wong of Malaysia.

The championship provides a life-changing pathway for the winner, who will earn starts in three Major championships – the AIG Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship – as well as the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship.

Previous WAAP participants have gone on to claim five Major championships in just eight years, highlighting the championship’s role as a genuine stepping stone to professional success.