Maverick Chua, 16, leads six Malaysians at Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship with Masters invite at stake
Six Malaysians led by Maverick Chua will play the Asia-Pacific Amateur at Te Arai Links from 29 Oct, chasing a 2027 Masters invite.
Sixteen-year-old Maverick Chua heads a six-man Malaysian group at this month's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in New Zealand, where the winner earns an invitation to the 2027 Masters. Chua says he is ready to build on a debut that ended early last year.
The 17th edition of the championship will be played at Te Arai Links, north of Auckland, from 29 October to 1 November. Chua will be joined by Anson Yeo, Nateesh Ganesh, Hariz Hezri, Afham Othman and Aiden Kei.
Chua's second shot
Chua missed the halfway cut on his AAC debut in Dubai in 2025. He has since spent time at the AAC Academy, which was held at Te Arai Links earlier this year, so he has already seen the course he will play in competition.
Speaking to theSun, Chua said the Academy had taught him a lot about course management and that the links layout tests every part of a player's game. He began playing golf at six, names Rory McIlroy as his biggest inspiration, and hopes to play NCAA Division I golf in the United States before turning professional.
What is at stake
The AAC was launched in 2009 by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament. It brings together the leading male amateurs from the confederation's 43 member organisations, with a field of 120 this year.
The winner receives an invitation to the Masters at Augusta National and a place in the 155th Open at St Andrews, both in 2027. The runner-up or runners-up earn a spot in Final Qualifying for The Open.
The championship has helped launch several leading professionals, including two-time winner Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Smith and New Zealand's Ryan Fox. Last year in Dubai, Fifa Laopakdee became the first Thai player to win the title.
The venue
Te Arai Links' South Course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2022. It is a par-72 links course built on natural sand dunes, about 75 minutes' drive from Auckland, and 16 of its holes have ocean views. Ryan Fox holds the course record.
This will be the AAC's second visit to New Zealand. The first was at Royal Wellington Golf Club in 2017.
Malaysia's best AAC results
No Malaysian has finished inside the top six at the AAC. The best results so far are Mohd Iszaimi Ismail's seventh place at the first edition in 2009, Ervin Chang's seventh in 2018, and Marcus Lim's tie for seventh in 2023.
Any of the six who finishes seventh or better would equal or beat the country's best result. New Zealand will be on daylight saving time, five hours ahead of Malaysia, so early-morning tee times at Te Arai will fall in the small hours in Malaysia.
Key takeaways
- Six Malaysians, led by 16-year-old Maverick Chua, will play the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Te Arai Links from 29 October to 1 November.
- The winner gets an invitation to the 2027 Masters and a place in the 155th Open at St Andrews.
- Chua missed the cut on his 2025 debut but has since attended the AAC Academy at the same course.
- Malaysia's best AAC finish is seventh, achieved three times.
FAQ Which Malaysians are playing the 2026 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship? Maverick Chua, Anson Yeo, Nateesh Ganesh, Hariz Hezri, Afham Othman and Aiden Kei.
What does the AAC winner receive? An invitation to the following year's Masters and an exemption into The Open. Runners-up get a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
Who won the AAC last year? Thailand's Fifa Laopakdee won in Dubai in 2025, the first Thai winner of the event.
Sources: theSun, The R&A, PGA Tour