UAE National Team player Jamie Camero will compete in the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, which gets underway this week at Royal Wellington Golf Club in New Zealand.
The championship, staged from 12 to 15 February, is jointly developed by The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation and is widely regarded as the premier amateur event for women in the region.
Featuring 84 players from 25 Asia-Pacific nations, the field includes many of the leading amateurs from across the continent, with the event having previously helped launch the careers of players such as Jeeno Thitikul, Patty Tavatanakit, Yuka Saso and Grace Kim.
Camero arrives at Royal Wellington as the sole representative from the UAE and will be making her second appearance in the championship, having debuted in 2024. Reflecting on her return, she said she was excited to be back in an environment she remembers fondly.
“It’s great to be here. It’s been a while, and I had amazing memories from my first time, so I’m excited to be back for sure,” Camero said.
She described her initial experience at the championship as a standout moment in her amateur career, citing both the level of competition and the atmosphere around the event.
“It was really the feeling and the ambience of being in the presence of, at that time, one of the biggest amateur events I’d played in. Being around so many great players and such a well-run championship is something that stays with you.”
Royal Wellington Golf Club has already made a strong impression on the UAE player, both visually and strategically. Following her first practice round, Camero pointed to the importance of course management, particularly around the greens.
“Amazing. Beautiful. Everywhere you go it’s hard to miss how good it looks. Even if you’re playing bad, it’s always great to look around, and I love that about this course,” she said.
“There’s a lot you have to take into account here. Strategy off the tee is going to be important for me, but the greens are a big factor for everyone. They’re undulating, tough to read, with some big breaks.”
Camero has spent more than seven years training at the Claude Harmon III Performance Golf Academy at The Els Club Dubai and recently joined the University of Central Florida, where she now competes for the UCF Knights. She believes the strong recent performances by UAE players at the men’s version, the Asia Amateur Pacific Championship, has provided added motivation.
“We all follow each other and support each other, even when we’re apart. Seeing the guys play well recently was great, and momentum always carries over. I’d like to build on that here.”
While acknowledging she is the only UAE player in the field this week, Camero said she is embracing the opportunity to represent her country on a major stage.
“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure. I really enjoy the team aspect, so maybe it feels a bit more lonely, but I’m excited to be here regardless.”
The winner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific earns invitations to compete in three major championships: the AIG Women’s Open, the Amundi Evian Championship and The Chevron Championship, along with starts in several elite amateur and professional events, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
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