Royal Wellington in New Zealand

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) have announced that the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be held at Royal Wellington in New Zealand from 12-15 February 2026.
This will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the championship, which aims to inspire future generations of women golfers and has evolved into the preeminent women’s amateur championship in the Asia-Pacific region.
Each year, WAAP provides the champion with life-changing opportunities through exemptions into three women’s major championships and elite amateur championships.
The winner will be invited to compete in the AIG Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship, and the Amundi Evian Championship. In addition, they will be asked to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Hana Financial Group Championship.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are delighted to bring the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to New Zealand for the first time. With the region’s best women amateurs competing for major opportunities, Royal Wellington, which has already hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, will be an outstanding golf course to test their skill and truly let their talent shine through.”
APGC Chairman Taimur Hassan Amin added, “From the outset, it was the intention to take the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific to different locations around our region. Following successful events in Singapore and Thailand twice each and once each in Abu Dhabi, Japan, and Vietnam, we’re excited to be heading south to New Zealand in 2026 to the spectacular stage that is Royal Wellington. It promises to be a memorable occasion.”
Jeff Latch, CEO of Golf New Zealand, also commented, “Golf New Zealand is incredibly proud to welcome the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to Royal Wellington Golf Club. As the pinnacle women’s amateur golf championship in the Asia-Pacific region, it provides a platform for the brightest young talents to compete on the world stage and will further inspire the next generation of golfers here in New Zealand.”
First established in 1895 and situated alongside the Hutt River, Royal Wellington is well-renowned as a parkland layout and is one of the premier courses in New Zealand.

Royal Wellington Club House in New Zealand

Royal Wellington has hosted the New Zealand Open on seven occasions, including in 1976 when local Steve Williams caddied in his first significant tournament for five-time Champion Golfer Peter Thomson. More recently, the course hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which China’s Yuxin Lin won in 2017.
Mike O’Neill, Royal Wellington Club Captain, and Women’s Captain Jane Paterson both agree, “The hosting of this championship is both a privilege and an opportunity – not only for us, but for all of New Zealand.  This is our chance to see the best young women amateur golfers from the Asia-Pacific region playing in our own backyard. We look forward to sharing our Club and our region with the competitors, their friends and family, and all who visit the Club during the championship.”
The WAAP was developed by the R&A and the APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a route for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.
New Zealand Major Events and WellingtonNZ Events have been instrumental in bringing this preeminent championship to the country.
Kylie Hawker-Green, General Manager of New Zealand Major Events, commented, “New Zealand Major Events is excited to support The R&A, APGC and Golf New Zealand to bring this women’s championship to New Zealand for the first time.
“We have an ongoing commitment to supporting women and girls’ sporting events across multiple codes, and as golf is an increasingly popular sport for women and girls across the country, we see this as an excellent opportunity to bring some of the best amateur players to our shores. In addition, through international broadcasting, it will help showcase New Zealand on the international stage.”

Heidi Morton, WellingtonNZ Events and Experiences General Manager, says hosting the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship strengthens Wellington’s standing as a top destination for international sporting events.

She said, “The Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific attracts a significant global audience, and it’s incredibly exciting that one of Wellington’s premier sporting venues – the Royal Wellington Golf Club – and the Wellington region will be centre stage to an audience of millions.

“This championship will showcase the next generation of talent from across Asia-Pacific, and we’re proud to cement Wellington’s role in celebrating and elevating women’s global sport.”

The R&A and APGC are supported by championship event partners who share their commitment to developing golf in the Asia-Pacific. The Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship is proudly supported by Rolex, ISPS Handa, Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings, Samsung, Hana Financial Group, Peter Millar, and Titleist.

More information on the WAAP can be found at the championship website.

Past Champions

Year                   Host club                                                 Champion                

2018                  Sentosa GC, Singapore                             Atthaya Thitikul (THA)
2019                  The Royal GC, Japan                                 Yuka Yasuda (JPN)
2020                  (not contested)
2021                  Abu Dhabi GC, UAE                                   Mizuki Hashimoto (JPN)
2022                  Siam CC, Thailand                                     Ting-Hsuan Huang (CTP)
2023                  Singapore Island CC, Singapore                Eila Galitsky (THA)
2024                  Siam CC, Thailand                                     Chun-Wei Wu (CTP) 

Jacques Kruyswijk handed his maiden DP world tour trophy after emerging victorious at the 56th edition of the Magical Kenya Open at Muthaiga Golf Club on Sunday.

By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS

South African pro-Jacques Kruyswijk carded a final round of four under par 67 to claim a two-shot victory over Englishman John Parry for a maiden DP World Tour Magical Kenya Open Golf Championship title at the Par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club course.

With an insatiable appetite for success, South African had his campaign effectively sewn up when Parry failed to keep up with his attack antics in the back nine.

After a nip and tuck first nine, Kruyswijk went into the closing Par 5 eighteenth with a three-shot advantage and celebrated his first victory in Kenya with verve and vigor when the Kenyan leg of the DP World Tour culminated.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Parry who had given his all on a scorching afternoon with scintillating displays in the 72-hole strokeplay event before his chances of a maiden Kenyan title went up in smoke.

“It’s such a great feeling winning my fitst title in Kenya, I mean it was just incredible shot after shot, it has not sunk in yet,” Kruyswijk said at the 18th hole after his success in Nairobi.

Kruyswijk climbed to the top of the leaderboard ahead of the final round of the MKO presented by Absa after firing a bogey-free 64 on Saturday afternoon.

The South African had gone into Saturday’s third round seven shots off the lead but as others struggled in breezy conditions , Kruyswijk carded seven birdies in a flawless display to take a one-shot lead into day four.

Kruyswijk did not put a foot wrong in the final round as he carded four birdies in a sensational 67 to complete a bogey-free weekend and become the second South African winner of this event since it became part of the DP World Tour’s Global Schedule.

The 32-year-old started the day with a one-stroke lead but trailed halfway leader Parry after five holes of Sunday’s final round, with the Englishman making back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth to hit the front.

But Kruyswijk soon hit back, rolling in lengthy birdie putts on the sixth and seventh to lead by one at the turn.

A fine bunker shot on the tenth helped Kruyswijk get up and down for a birdie to move two shots clear but Parry birdied the 12th to cut the gap once more and remain within striking distance.

Kruyswijk looked comfortable leading from the front, though, continuing to give himself birdie chances and confidently knocking in par putts.

And after Parry’s errant tee shot on the 14th saw him surrender a bogey there, Kruyswijk never looked like giving up his lead, holing from range for another birdie on the 16th to stretch his advantage to three before parring his way home to enter the winner’s circle for the first time on the DP World Tour.

The South African enjoyed a stellar career as an amateur and won the Royal Silver Vase in 2011.

In 2011 he was nominated as the SA IPT Player of the Year.

Kruyswijk turned professional in January 2013 after he finished 7th in the 2013 Sunshine Tour Q-School.

In 2021, Kruyswijk recorded his second Sunshine Tour victory when he won the Sunshine Tour Invitational held at his home club, the Centurion Country Club.

He broke into the top 200 on the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time following this win.

FINAL RESULTS -KENYA OPEN 2025

1. Jacques KRUYSWIJK (RSA) 69, 66, 64, 67 (-18)

2. John PARRY (ENG) 63, 65, 72, 68 (-16)

3. Deon GERMISHUYS (RSA) 68, 68, 67, 68 (-13)

4. Jayden SCHAPER (RSA) 64 ,69, 73, 66 (-12)

T5. Jamie RUTHERFORD (ENG) 66, 71, 69 (-11)

T5.Gregorio DE LEO (ITA) 68, 71 ,66, 68 (-11)

PRIZE MONEY

1.Jacques USD 425000.00

2. PARRY USD 275000.00 (Sh 55 million)

3. GERMISHUYS USD 157500.00 (Sh 20 million)