The 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will take place from 29 October to 1 November at Te Arai Links’ South Course in New Zealand. The 17th edition of the championship will bring together leading male amateur golfers from across the Asia-Pacific region, competing for opportunities to play in some of golf’s most prestigious championships.
The event was established in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to develop amateur golf across the region. Its winner will receive an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament and an exemption into The 155th Open at St Andrews.
For Arab golf, the championship provides an opportunity for players to represent their countries on an international stage. The 2026 field includes 11 representatives from seven Arab countries: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Arab Countries and Their Representatives
The Arab contingent features 11 golfers with a mix of championship experience, regional victories and international amateur achievements. Iraq’s Zaidoon Zakaria will make his third championship appearance after competing in 2024 and 2025. Jordan’s Mousa Shana’ah returns for his fifth start, having made the cut in Japan in 2024 and won the Infinity Junior International Masters in the UAE in 2026. Lebanon’s Geoffrey Laklak will make his third appearance after finishing tied 27th in 2025, becoming the first golfer representing Lebanon to make the championship cut. Oman’s Azzan Al Rumhy and Ahmed Al Wahaibi bring extensive regional experience: Al Rumhy is set for his 12th appearance and won a World Amateur Golf Ranking event in Oman in 2025, while Al Wahaibi returns for his fourth start after finishing runner-up at the Oman Open Amateur in 2026. Qatar’s Daniil (Dany) Sokolov playing for Qatar; a raising star at just 15 years of age. Saudi Arabia’s Khalid AlFaisal returns for his second appearance after winning the Oman Open Amateur in 2026 and recording top-15 finishes in World Amateur Golf Ranking events in Saudi Arabia and Latvia. Rayan Ahmed and Jonathan Selvaraj will represent UAE, while Ahmed returns for his third appearance after improving to tied 24th in 2025 and winning two World Amateur Golf Ranking events in the UAE earlier in 2026. Selvaraj makes his second start after recording five top-10 finishes in ranking events in 2026 and winning tournaments in Morocco and the UAE in 2025.
Format and Structure
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship is played over 72 holes of stroke play across four rounds.
After the first 36 holes, the leading 60 players and ties advance to the final two rounds. If players are tied after 72 holes, the championship is decided by a sudden-death playoff.
The field is selected from leading male amateurs representing APGC member associations. Qualification is based primarily on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with places also available for past champions and eligible leading finishers from the previous edition.
Exemptions and Awards
The Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship offers an important pathway to golf’s biggest events.
The champion will receive an invitation to the 2027 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and an exemption into The 155th Open at St Andrews. The runner-up or runners-up will receive an exemption into The Open Qualifying Series, while the top three finishers will receive exemptions into The Amateur Championship.
These opportunities make the championship particularly significant for amateur golfers seeking to progress towards the professional game.
Venue: Te Arai Links South Course
The 2026 championship will be hosted at Te Arai Links’ South Course in New Zealand, approximately 75 minutes north of Auckland.
Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2022, the par-72 course features 16 holes with views of the Pacific Ocean. Its links-style layout, firm playing surfaces and natural sand dunes are expected to test the field’s course management, shot control and ability to adapt to changing conditions.
The championship’s return to New Zealand marks the second time the event has been hosted in the country, following the 2017 edition at Royal Wellington Golf Club.
A Significant International Opportunity for Arab Golf
The 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will give Arab golfers another opportunity to compete against leading amateurs from across the region. With 11 representatives from seven Arab countries, the contingent includes experienced returnees and players continuing to establish themselves internationally.
