DALTON, Ga. — Dalton State junior Jia Kataria will represent the Lady Roadrunners on the international stage this month at the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP), set for Feb. 12–15 at Royal Wellington Golf Club in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. Kataria enters the week on the heels of a dominant Fall 2025, rising to No. 1 in the NAIA national ranking on Scoreboard/Clippd with a 70.7 adjusted scoring average over 12 rounds.
 
"The invite to this tournament means a lot to me since it is one of the most prestigious events I have played in," Kataria said. "I am extremely grateful to be invited, and I'll approach this tournament as I do any other, by staying in the present, which helps me focus on the process."  
 
Hosted by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), WAAP is the region's premier women's amateur championship and a direct pathway to the professional game's biggest stages. The eighth edition, and the first held in New Zealand, will bring together 84 players from 28 countries on Royal Wellington's classic parkland layout along the Hutt River, a venue with championship pedigree that includes seven New Zealand Opens and the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.
 
"Anytime you have the opportunity to have the Dalton State bag around the best players from the best programs, it is a great thing for us," Jim McGrew, Dalton State head women's golf coach, said. "We know she will represent us in a manner that anyone that is a part of our program can be proud of."
 
Kataria's recent form underscores her candidacy as a contender. In Fall 2025 alone, she posted two victories (Seahawk Shootout, Lady Roadrunner Fall Invite) and two runner-up finishes (Carey Collegiate, The Invite at Innisbrook), a four-start run that propelled her to NAIA No. 1. Her World Amateur Golf Ranking record adds further weight, with wins at the SSAC Women's Golf Championship (2025), LTU Spring Break Invitational (2025) and Lady Roadrunner Fall Invite (2025), plus an earlier victory at The Invite at Innisbrook (2024).
 
Course fit figures prominently in Wellington. Royal Wellington rewards precision, placement and patient tee-to-green decision-making, traits reflected in Kataria's low-variance scoring profile.
 
 "My shots approaching the greens are going to help me, as will my short game since this course is pretty tight around the greens," she said. "In terms of placement, as long as my course management keeps me out of trouble and I miss it in the right spot, as Coach McGrew has always told us, I'll be in good shape."
 
Kataria, a native of India, emphasized the pride she takes in representing her school and flag.
 
"I am extremely grateful to represent India and Dalton State, especially because of the opportunities I have received from the school," she said. "I'm lucky to have the support that I do, and I hope to make our school proud in another country. While I'm there, I'll be rooting for my girls as they play their first event of the spring season."
 
The stakes in New Zealand are unmistakable. The WAAP champion earns exemptions into three women's majors, the AIG Women's Open, The Chevron Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship, along with invitations to the Augusta National Women's Amateur and the Hana Financial Group Championship. "The week will be a success if I enjoy myself and give 100%," Kataria said.
 
The championship runs Feb. 12–15 at Royal Wellington. For official updates, starting times and event coverage, visit The R&A's WAAP hub and announcement pages.

SCHEDULE & HOW TO FOLLOW
Dates: February 12–15, 2026 (Royal Wellington, Upper Hutt, New Zealand)
TEE TIME
ROUND 1

• NO. 10 at 3:12 p.m. (ET) Wednesday/11:12 a.m. (GMT +13) Thursday

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