AAC Academy Promotes Early Preparation at Te Arai

Auckland, New Zealand: With the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) on the horizon, players across the vast region have begun preparing in earnest for the opportunity to represent their country at one of the most unique backdrops in the world: Te Arai Links.

Late last month, 16 players from across the Asia-Pacific got the chance to develop their skills on-site at Te Arai as a part of the event’s on-going AAC Academy programme intended to enhance the capabilities of players in developing golf nations in an effort to advance their skills and create heroes.

This contingent – which represented 12 countries in total – began the week with personalised club-fitting exercises, the first of many unique experiences from the week.

Over the following days, the group began coaching rotations that spanned across range sessions, short game challenges, putting instruction, physio assessments and mental coaching.

These sessions, which also included on-course coaching, allowed for one-on-one instruction with renowned coaches, including sports psychologist John Crampton; international development/putting coach Stephen Deane; sport science/biomechanical analyst Ryan Lumsden; Golf NSW regional manager and development coach Andrew Welsford; playing professional Scott Barr and physiotherapist Matt Green.

Rajat Rai, an 18-year-old from Fiji, entered the week ‘hoping to gain a deeper understanding’ of where his game stacked up and ‘gain insight into the barriers that may be limiting his potential’. After several days on the ground, he declared the week a rousing success.

Rai said: “The best part so far has definitely been the group of boys that have come down. Getting the mix with Asia and the Pacific Islands is a very good mix for all the boys. Very valuable. A lesson with Stevie D [Stephen Deane] on the putting green [was invaluable]. It was very good for green-reading, which helped me a lot.”

Rai was one of nine participants at the Academy who had previously competed in the AAC. He joined his countryman Shakeel Pillay, Malaysian Maverick Chua, Samoan Aaron Evalu, Indian Anshul Mishra, Indonesians Kenneth Sutianto and William Justin Wijaya, Thai Parin Sarasmut and the Philippines' Shinichi Suzuki as those who know what to expect from prior appearances.

Mishra, Parin, Sutianto and Suzuki have each made the cut, with Mishra’s debut last year resulting in a tied-seventh finish in Dubai. Seven Academy participants have yet to experience the international stage that the AAC provides – New Zealand representatives Ivan Adams and Cordell Henare, the Solomon Islands’ Timothy Dalo, Papua New Guinea’s Jabez Ireng, Vietnam’s Nguyen Trong Hoang and the Cook Islands’ Tahitoa Webb and Tane Wichman.

For Ireng, one of the youngest players on-site at 15 years old, the week is just the start of his goal of one day becoming the top golfer in Papua New Guinea.

Ireng said: “The best part of the Academy has been learning as much as possible. From the short-game practice to driving, putting and exercising. The putting techniques have been really effective for me and I think I’m going to bring some of them home to practice.”

One aspect of the week that received a consensus amongst the group: Te Arai Links will provide a show-stopping backdrop for the 2026 AAC this fall.

“This facility is very beautiful,” marvelled Ireng. “I think it is the best course I’ve played in my entire life. It’s top-notch.”

*Article by Ricky Robinson, AAC - https://www.aacgolf.com/