Defending WAAP Champion Eyes Meaningful Milestone

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Jeneath Wong will be bidding for a notable slice of golfing history when she tees-off in the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship.

The 21-year-old Wong etched her name into the annals of the region’s pre-eminent amateur championship for women by becoming the first Malaysian winner at Hoiana Shores, Vietnam last March.

Now, her attention is turned to attempting to become the first back-to-back WAAP winner when New Zealand’s Royal Wellington Golf Club hosts the championship for the first time from February 12-15.

Wong, a senior at Pepperdine University in California, said: “I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity to defend my title at Royal Wellington. Any chance to return as a defending champion is special and doing it at such a well-respected venue makes it even more meaningful.

“From what I’ve heard, it rewards strong ball-striking and smart course management, which suits my game well. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Wong, who began 2026 in 90th position in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), said becoming Malaysia’s first WAAP champion was an honour. 

She said: “What stands out the most is the overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride I felt representing Malaysia. Winning the WAAP was incredibly emotional, not just because of the victory itself, but because of what it meant for Malaysian golf and myself. Seeing the support from home and knowing that the win inspired others made it even more special. Personally, it was a moment that validated all the hard work and sacrifices over the years.

“The WAAP has had a massive impact on women’s golf in the Asia-Pacific region by creating opportunities and visibility for young female golfers. Growing up, I followed the championship closely and always saw it as one of the biggest goals for an amateur golfer in this region. Just qualifying to play once was a dream, so winning, it felt surreal. It shows young girls that pathways exist and big dreams are achievable.”

Joining Wong in the starting field in New Zealand will be three other Malaysians – Charlayne Chong Shin Ling, Nur Maisara Sa’ad and Foong Zi Yu.

It will be the third start in the WAAP for both Foong (51st/2024, MC/2021) and Chong (MC/2025, MC/2024) while Nur Maisara will be making her debut.

Foong, a junior at the University of Nevada, won a collegiate tournament in the US last year and was runner-up in the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open while Chong’s best finish in 2025 was third place at the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open.

A total of 83 players from 28 countries are set to contest the WAAP which was 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. 

Next month’s field will include 13 players from the top-50 of the WAGR and 26 from the top-100, including world number 12 Oh Soo-min from Korea, and world number 18 Rianne Malixi of the Philippines.

Current world number one Atthaya ‘Jeeno’ Thitikul of Thailand is the most notable WAAP champion to date, having gone on to establish herself in women’s professional golf after becoming the inaugural winner at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club in 2018.

The WAAP offers life-changing opportunities to the winner, including 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 winner will also receive invitations to a handful of other elite championships such as the Hana Financial Group Championship, ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open, The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

*The R&A and APGC are supported by championship event partners that share their commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The WAAP championship is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz, Titleist and Tongariro as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and Wellington Council.