The start of a new year at RSGC traditionally signals the return of one of the Club’s most anticipated competitions: RSGC Annual Club Championship. With a history dating back to 1896, the Championship continues to open the golfing calendar each year, setting the tone for the season ahead and remaining a fixture many members look forward to.
The 2026 edition began with two rounds of stroke play qualifying, with 51 players competing on 10 and 11 January across the New Course and Old Course. With only 15 qualifying places available, alongside the defending champion, who qualified automatically. Every stroke mattered across both days of competition.
DAY 1
The opening round was contested on the New Course, where consistency proved crucial from the outset. Aiden Kei set the early pace with a composed opening round of 73. Justin Chan followed closely with a 75, alongside Kenta Izawa, who also returned a round of 75. Aimen Sho posted a steady 76, while Jonas Lind, Tan San Chuan, Wilson Lian and Faiz K. Ahmad remained firmly in contention after carding rounds of 78. With minimal separation across the leaderboard, the qualifying race remained wide open heading into the second round.
DAY 2
The competition moved to the Old Course for the final round of qualifying, where composure and course management proved decisive. Justin Chan rose to the occasion with a strong second round of 71 to finish as the leading qualifier on a two-round total of 146. Aiden Kei followed closely on 147 after adding a 74, while Jonas Lind climbed the standings with an impressive 71 to secure third place on 149. Kenta Izawa (151) and Aimen Sho (154) also confirmed their places among the qualifiers. Several positions were decided by narrow margins, reflecting the competitiveness of the field throughout the weekend.
With the Qualifying Rounds completed, the following players advanced to the match play stage:
- Defending Champion – Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid
- Justin Chan
- Aiden Kei
- Jonas Lind
- Kenta Izawa
- Aimen Sho
- Jordan Ooi
- Leong Chun Yan
- Wilson Lian
- Tan San Chuan
- Shanker K. Velu
- Faiz K. Ahmad
- Ichiro Suzuki
- Mazeed Abd Wahab
- Gregory Eu
- Joey Azman
With the match play stage now underway, the Club Championship builds steadily towards its conclusion, with the Finals scheduled to be played on 7 and 8 February 2026. The coming weeks promise closely contested matches as players continue their pursuit of one of the Club’s most coveted titles.
Good luck to all players!
