WAAP Academy Advances Region’s Rising Stars

Wellington, New Zealand: A group of promising young golfers have benefited from the second edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Academy, which is delivered by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) to strengthen the development pathway in the region.

Launched this year, the WAAP Academy provides high-performance coaching and support for players who may not otherwise have access to elite training environments.

The Academy’s second cohort brought together golfers from across the Pacific as well as young New Zealanders ahead of the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship at Royal Wellington next February.

Tyanna Jacot, a promising 17-year-old left-hander, who was born and raised in the tiny Pacific nation of Guam, said: “The Academy has been amazing. It’s been hard work and I’ve learned a lot over the past couple days. I’d attended a different camp when I was a teen, but this is on a different level.

“I’ve learned a lot about my short game, my long game, the mental side of golf, and also the physiotherapy side of things and how to maintain your body so you can continue and play at your highest level.

“I feel like I’m going to have an advantage in next year’s Championship because I’ve seen the golf course here at Royal Wellington. I can already tell what the weather’s going to be like and how it’s going to play.”

Jacot believes she can help put her small country on the map through her performances, as well as inspire younger players from her region.

“When people ask me about Guam, I usually say it’s a small island in the Pacific Ocean. It’s only 30 miles long, 15 miles wide, but great weather, good golf, good people, and there’s a lot to see out there.

“Golf is very popular. There’s a lot of golf courses, there’s a lot of golfers and a lot of fun. 

“I really am proud to represent Guam. A lot of people don’t know where it is, but I feel like through me more people will be able know about the island, know where it is, and that it actually it exists.”

Promising Samoan golfer Faith Vui echoed Jacot’s comments about flying the flag for her home nation. She said: “I am very proud to represent my country, Samoa, here at the Academy. It’s great to carry my flag on my shoulders and represent my people.

“I’ve learned so much and I’m hoping to take what I’ve learned and apply it to my golf and my daily life. To have these professionals helping us out is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

One of the more heartwarming stories at the latest Academy belonged to 30-year-old Papua New Guinea golfer Margaret Lavaki who has appeared in previous Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championships without making the cut. She said: “I was really grateful to be invited to this Academy. There’s been a lot of first-time things. I’m the first Papua New Guinean lady to compete in the Women’s Asia-Amateur Pacific championship and also the first one to come to this Academy.

“All of the coaching and technology, along with waking up very early to get on the course, that’s a lot of experience. I especially learned a lot during the club fitting. 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.

“So, I learned a lot about the golf club itself and how to hit shots to certain styles and distances. I’m really thankful to everyone for helping me out with my game and my journey with golf.”

The participation of Jacot, Vui and Lavaki, all of whom aim to make the cut in the WAAP for the first time, reflects the Academy’s role in supporting players who are already competing on the regional stage but require greater access to elite coaching to progress further.

The second group also included a strong contingent of New Zealand players, with representatives from the New Zealand Māori Golf Association, Rebecca Blackwell-Chin, Hunter Edwards, and Tania Ellis, and Royal Wellington Golf Club’s Amy Yu (12) and Elise Barber (13).

Reinforcing the Academy’s broad regional footprint, Raina Kumar of Fiji, Junia Gabasa of the Philippines, Singapore’s Chen Xingtong and Sri Lankan Kaya Daluwatte were also invited to take part.

As the region prepares for the 2026 WAAP (February 12-15), the Academy continues to play a central role in strengthening pathways for emerging golfers.

Dominic Wall, Regional Managing Director – Asia-Pacific at The R&A, said: “The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Academy continues to grow in both scale and impact, and it is encouraging to see players from across the region engaging with world-class coaching in facilities such as the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS).

“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. This is an important investment in the long-term strength of the women’s game across our region.”

Across the week-long programme, players received specialist training from an experienced high-performance team, including Technical Director John Crampton, short game coach Scott Barr, swing coach Andrew Welsford, data and Trackman specialist Ryan Lumsden and the NZCIS strength and conditioning team. Their combined expertise ensured each participant received targeted guidance to support both immediate improvement and long-term development.

The WAAP Academy is designed not only to elevate performance but also to inspire and empower players who often serve as the sole international representatives of their home nations. Many return as role models in their communities, helping to grow participation and ambition in the women’s game.

This second edition builds on the Academy’s strong foundations, widening access to high-level development opportunities for young women across the Pacific and was proudly supported by The R&A Foundation and Samsung.