Maurice and Wong Take High Road from Scotland to Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand: Their talent at golf is not the only common denominator between Caitlin Maurice and Sabrina Wong, two of the participants upon whom the spotlight will shine at this week’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).

For New Zealander Maurice and Hong Kong, China’s Wong it’s been quite a trek to reach Royal Wellington Golf Club – all the way from Scotland, the ancestral home of golf.

While it’s an emotional homecoming for 23-year-old Maurice, for 14-year-old Wong it’s a first-ever visit to New Zealand – some 18,000 kilometres and 30 flying hours removed from Scotland.

Both are simply thrilled to be here and have cause for optimism ahead of the eighth edition of the region’s pre-eminent women’s amateur championship.

“It’s always special to represent your home country, and to have the tournament back home is very cool to be a part of. I’m super excited to play against some of the best girls in the world,” said Maurice, who returned to New Zealand six weeks ago having finished her finals in pursuit of her master’s degree at the University of St Andrews.

“St Andrews is a very special place. Being a student there is very cool. It’s such a beautiful, cute town with an amazing student vibe,” said Maurice, whose sole previous WAAP appearance came in Abu Dhabi in 2021 where she missed the cut.

Maurice, who grew up in the Bay of Plenty, had one win and six top-10 finishes in World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) events last year. She won an R&A Student Tour Series event in Ireland and finished third in another event in Sweden.

Like Maurice, Wong is loving life in Scotland where she says studies are more relaxed than in Hong Kong … and there’s plenty of time to practice golf.

Since moving to Glasgow in 2023, Wong’s game has improved by leaps and bounds.

In 2024, she had two wins and eight top-10s in WAGR-counting events. She was runner-up in the Girls’ Junior European Open in Spain and ninth in the R&A Girls’ Under-16 Amateur.

That year she also made her debut in the WAAP. The youngest player in the field at Thailand’s Siam Country Club, Wong missed the cut but left a lasting impression with her skill and bubbly personality.

Her improvement was illustrated at last year’s WAAP when she placed 46th at Hoiana Shores Golf Club in Vietnam. It set the tone for a fabulous year, highlighted by winning the R&A Girls’ Under-16 Amateur, the Under-14 title and the Girls’ Junior European Open.

She also reached the semi-finals of the R&A Girls’ Amateur in Wales and represented Hong Kong, China at the World Amateur Team Championships for the Espirito Santo Trophy in Singapore.

A self-confessed Formula One fan with a special liking for Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, Wong is hopeful of finding herself in the fast lane as she aims for pole position at Royal Wellington.

“Every time, the WAAP is such a good experience. I really enjoy playing at such high standard courses. This is my third appearance in the championship but my first time in New Zealand. It’s so exciting to be here,” she said.

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 WAAP is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Royal Wellington Golf Club, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Peter Millar, Titleist, Sparms, New Zealand Mercedes-Benz and Tongariro, as well as investment partners New Zealand Major Events and Wellington Council and host association Golf New Zealand.