[Photo: Daniel Pockett/R&A/R&A via Getty Images]
Queensland duo Shyla Singh and Grace Rho will have some local support when the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship tees off at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand on Thursday.
RELATED: Aussies chasing historic first at 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific
Rho will be out in the first group off the 10th tee in Round 1 at 10am local time (8am AEDT) as the six-strong team seeks to create history as the first Australian winner of a championship now in its eighth staging.
In addition to starts in three majors in 2026 – the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship – the winner also earns starts in the women’s Australian Open, Hana Financial Group Championship, the 123rd Women’s Amateur Championship and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
A total of 25 countries are represented in the 84-player field, Brisbane-based Rho calling on a fellow Royal Queensland Golf Club member to caddie while Singh’s parents are flying in from the Gold Coast to support their daughter in the country where they grew up.
Singh’s mother, Romina, grew up in Wellington while her father, Vin, hails from Auckland, their presence taking on greater meaning given she has been attending the University of Oregon since August last year.
“I don’t get to see them a bunch so it’s good that it’s only a short way over from Australia and they can come and watch me play golf because it’s kind of been a while since they got to watch me,” said Singh, whose travel to Wellington consisted of a non-stop journey from Oregon through San Franciso, 13 hours to Auckland then down to Wellington.
“They are very proud Kiwis. I mean, they grew up here and they did university here, so they feel like probably the strongest connection to New Zealand out of anywhere else. It’s pretty cool that they get to come to their second home.”
Rho, whose golf journey began as a 12-year-old at Keperra and Virginia golf clubs in Brisbane, has enlisted the help of fellow Royal Queensland member Oli Newman to caddie.
Newman, who has been caddieing for Quinn Croker on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this season, is a long-time member of Royal Wellington Golf Club and shapes as a secret weapon at a course where strategy and knowledge of prevailing winds will be crucial.
“He will definitely be a lot of help since he’ll know a lot more about the game, how I play, how it feels out on course as well,” said Rho, who joined Royal Queensland four years ago.
“I think all those three will be a lot of help as a caddie.”
Named Female Amateur Golfer of the Year at the 2025 Queensland Golf Industry Awards, Rho was 44th at the Uswing Mojing Junior World championship in the US last July and is excited to make her WAAP debut wearing the green and gold.
“I don’t know how or why but it feels a bit special, kind of just representing my country,” said the 19-year-old.
“Being in a team as well, wearing the same uniform, you kind of have that team spirit.”
Ranked the No.3 NCAA Division 1 women’s golf team, Singh has played every event for the University of Oregon in her freshman year, an achievement that has further boosted her confidence.
“I’ve made every single lineup, which was a big goal of mine going into it,” she added.
“Obviously I want to play and get the chance to compete, which is good, but I would say a little bit unexpected even though that was my goal.
“I was working towards that but then to actually think I actually did make every event as a freshman is pretty cool. Not a lot of people can say that.”
Australia’s best result in the WAAP to date is Kelsey Bennett’s tie for second in 2021, last week’s Australian Amateur champion Jazy Roberts, reigning Australian Junior champion Raegan Denton and 2025 US Women’s Amateur semi-finalist Ella Scaysbrook all carrying strong hopes to become Australia’s first winner.
All four rounds of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. Coverage is live from 11am AEDT Thursday and Friday and live from 9:30am AEDT Saturday and Sunday.
Details
Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship
Royal Wellington Golf Club, Wellington, NZ
Recent champion: Jeneath Wong (Malaysia)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 11am-2pm AEDT Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 9:30am-12pm AEDT Saturday and Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.
Australians in the field
Raegan Denton
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 37
Home club: Royal Adelaide GC, SA
Wins: 2026 Women’s Australian Master of The Amateurs; 2025 Port Phillip Open Amateur and Victorian Amateur; 2025 NextGen Amateur Tour World Final; 2025 Australian Girls’ Amateur; 2025 Rene Erichsen Salver; 2024 Bonville Champions Trophy; 2024 Jack Newton International Junior Classic; 2024 Queensland Amateur Championship.
Rachel Lee
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 110
Home club: Avondale GC, NSW
Wins: 2025 Sydney Amateur International; 2025 Queensland Junior Amateur; 2025 Concord Cup; 2025 Australian Women’s Amateur Championship; 2024 NextGen Amateur Tour Newcastle; NextGen Amateur Tour Bankstown.
Ella Scaysbrook [pictured below]
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 59
Home club: The Australian GC, NSW
Wins: 2026 Avondale Bowl; 2025 NSW Silver Cup; 2025 Avondale Bowl; 2024 Bowra & O’Dea Women’s 72 Hole Classic; 2024 Rene Erichsen Salver.
Shyla Singh
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 149
Home club: Southport GC, Qld
Wins: 2024 Australian Girls’ Amateur
Grace Rho
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 192
Home club: Royal Queensland GC, Qld
Wins: 2025 Bowra & O’Dea Womens 72 Hole Classic; 2025 NSW Amateur; 2024 Katherine Kirk Classic; 2024 Pacific Harbour Amateur.
Jazy Roberts
World Amateur Golf Ranking: 58
Home club: Yarra Yarra GC, Vic
Wins: 2025 Dunes Medal; 2025 Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship (US); 2024 Dunes Medal; 2024 Keperra Bowl.