MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine women's golf head coach Laurie Gibbs has announced the signing of Kaya Daluwatte to join the program ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Daluwatte has emerged as a top amateur golfer in Asia and as the top amateur in her home country of Sri Lanka. She has won multiple noteworthy tournaments during her amateur career and currently holds a world amateur golf ranking of 418.
"We are very impressed with Kaya's game and her success competing around the world," said Gibbs. "She is a proven winner and will be a great addition to the Waves. Kaya has a wonderful personality that allows her to play her best under pressure in tournaments."
Daluwatte's wins on the amateur circuit feature the 2025 Singha Thailand Junior World Championship, the 2024 Nepal Amateur Open and consecutive titles at the Sri Lanka Amateur Open in 2024-25.
She recently won a bronze medal at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain this past month, marking the first-ever medal won by a Sri Lankan golfer at the games.
"I chose Pepperdine because of Coach Laurie and Coach Kacey's genuine warmth and support throughout the recruiting process," said Daluwatte. "I loved the campus, the golf facilities, and the beautiful Malibu setting. Being so close to the ocean feels like a little piece of home."
Other notable finishes for Daluwatte include fifth-place at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation Junior Championship and fourth-place at the All India Ladies Amateur. She went on to compete in her first USGA event in July, contesting the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in Georgia.
Daluwatte will join a young Pepperdine roster that is currently ranked No. 8 in the country, with three underclassmen ranked within the top-110 individually.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S GOLF
Pepperdine women's golf has consistently been one of the top collegiate programs in the country under head coach Laurie Gibbs, exemplified by the current streak of 26 straight seasons with an NCAA Regional appearance. Having advanced to the NCAA Championships on 14 of those occasions, the Waves also boast 21 WCC Championships since 1998. Since the year 2000, 15 athletes have garnered All-American honors with a total of 31 selections.
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ABOUT SVN2 INDOOR GOLF
The Pepperdine women's golf 2025-26 season is sponsored by SVN2 Golf. SVN2 Golf is a Southern California based premium indoor golf simulation experience that uses advanced TrackMan technology to provide realistic gameplay, instant swing feedback, and practice tools for golfers of all levels. The facility offers a high-tech, immersive experience with a wide variety of legendary and exclusive courses, a relaxed, self-service environment, and opportunities for leagues and events. Facilities in Newbury Park and Malibu will be joined in 2025 by new venues in Woodland Hills and Santa Clarita. For more information, visit www.svn2golf.com.
