Wellington: Malaysia’s Jeneath Wong is gearing up for a successful title defence at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship when the region’s best young players descend on New Zealand for the eighth edition at Royal Wellington from Feb 12 to 15, 2026.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 21-year-old Jeneath wrote a slice of golf history in the region’s pre-eminent amateur championship for women by becoming the first Malaysian winner at Hoiana Shores, Vietnam in March and will now attempt to become the first back-to-back WAAP winner when Royal Wellington hosts the championship for the first time.
Jeneath expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to defend her title. She stated, “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.”
She also highlighted the honor of being Malaysia’s first champion at the WAAP, noting the overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride in representing Malaysia. Jeneath remarked, “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 championship will feature three other Malaysian amateurs, Charlayne Chong Shin Ling, Nur Maisara Sa’ad, and Foong Zi Yu, as part of the 83 players from 28 countries. This event, developed by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R and A, aims to nurture talent and provide a pathway for the region’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.
The 2026 edition will include 13 players from the top-50 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking and 26 from the top-100, with notable participants such as world No. 12 Soomin Oh from the Republic of Korea and world No. 15 Rianne Malixi of the Philippines competing alongside Jeneath.
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, the inaugural WAAP champion in 2018, has since ascended to the current women’s World No. 1 in the professional game. 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 and St Annes, the Amundi Evian Championship in France, and the Chevron Championship in the United States of America.
Additionally, the winner will receive invitations to several 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.