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Womens Amateur Asia-Pacific
Talented 13-year-old receives final Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific invite and will compete at home course
06 Feb 26
6 mins
A talented 13-year-old from New Zealand has been handed the final invite to the upcoming Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship, which tees off at her home course, Royal Wellington Golf Club.
Elise Barber will compete when the championship takes place from 12 to 15 February 2026. She fills a vacancy left by a late withdrawal and will become the youngest competitor in the field of 84 players from 25 countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Upon receiving the news last Friday evening from The R&A her reaction was disbelief. "You're kidding me… no way! I couldn't believe it," said Barber. "My dad told me straight away and my mum was right there too. They were both super excited.” For Barber, the invite represents a remarkable opportunity to compete against some of the region's most accomplished amateur golfers on her home course. "It helps a lot because I know the course well. I am familiar with the surrounds, so that gives me a bit more confidence," she said. Barber enters following a strong 2025 season, having won the Australian Junior Age Division Championship (Girls 11–12), placing second in the New Zealand Women’s Stroke Play Championship, competing against seasoned adult golfers, and helping Wellington secure third at the New Zealand Women’s Interprovincial Tournament. "Playing well lately also makes me believe I can compete and enjoy the week." The young Wellington golfer recently participated in the WAAP Academy in November 2025, where she trained alongside fellow Royal Wellington member Amy Yu and players from across the Pacific Islands region. The week-long development programme provided access to world-class coaching in sport psychology, short game, swing technique and Trackman data analysis.
Elise Barber and Amy Yu at the WAAP Academy.
When asked about her feelings heading into the championship as the youngest player in the field, Barber admitted to a mix of emotions.
"Definitely both excited and nervous," she said.
"I am excited because it's such a huge opportunity, but I am nervous because it's the biggest event I have ever played in."
"Success for me would be playing confidently, sticking to my routines and enjoying the whole experience. If I do that, I will be happy."
She joins a strong New Zealand contingent of ten players including top-ranked Kiwi Eunseo Choi who finished 13th at the 2025 championship and Vivian Lu who will make her sixth WAAP appearance.
Whilst she will also have the opportunity to play alongside and learn from the best players in the Asia-Pacific region including world number 11 Soomin Oh, 2024 US Girls’ Junior and US Women’s Amateur champion Rianne Malixi and defending champion Jeneath Wong.
The championship provides a life-changing pathway for the winner, who will earn starts in three major championships—the AIG Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship—as well as the Augusta National Women's Amateur and The 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship.
The Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific championship takes place from 12 to 15 February 2026 at Royal Wellington Golf Club.