Once the stroke play qualifiers were complete, the tone of the Championship shifted entirely. Match play brings a different kind of pressure — where every hole carries consequence, and momentum can turn in a single swing. For the remaining sixteen players, the Old Course became the stage for a week defined by resilience, nerve and decisive moments.
The match play stage of the 2026 RSGC Annual Men’s Club Championship began with an unexpected change to the lineup, as two qualifiers, Justin Chan and Faiz K. Ahmad, were unable to participate. They were replaced by reserves Tengku Baderulzaman and Riley Karner, ensuring a full field for the first round.
FIRST ROUND | 17 JANUARY 2026
Defending champion Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid set the tone with a commanding performance against junior player Riley Karner, securing a dominant 7&5 victory.
Wilson Lian edged past Tan San Chuan in a closely contested match, winning 1 up. In another tight encounter, RSGC Junior Club Champion (Boys) Kenta Izawa was narrowly eliminated by Gregory Eu, who prevailed 1 up.
Aimen Sho delivered one of the most decisive results of the round, defeating RSGC Senior Golfers’ Champion Mazeed Abd Wahab by 7&6. Past Club Champion Aiden Kei advanced with a solid 5&4 win over Tengku Baderulzaman, while Leong Chun Yan claimed a 2&1 victory against Shanker Kathir Velu.
Jonas Lind continued his strong run with a 3&2 win over Joey Azman, and Jordan Ooi produced one of the standout results of the day by defeating multiple-time past champion Ichiro Suzuki 5&4.
QUARTER-FINALS | 18 JANUARY 2026
The defending champion remained firmly on course as Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid defeated Wilson Lian 4&2.
The match between Gregory Eu and Aimen Sho proved to be one of the most dramatic of this year’s Championship. Locked level after 18 holes, the contest went into suddendeath playoff, where Aimen held his nerve to secure victory on the third extra hole.
Leong Chun Yan edged out Aiden Kei in a tightly fought match, winning 1 up, while Jordan Ooi maintained his momentum with a 3&1 victory over Jonas Lind.
SEMI-FINALS | 24–25 JANUARY 2026
The semi-finals were contested over two days, demanding both resilience and composure from the remaining four players.
In the first match, Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid established a commanding 6 up lead on Day 1 against Aimen Sho. Although Aimen mounted a determined comeback on Day 2, the gap proved too great to close. Faiq sealed the match early, winning 7&6 on the 12th hole.
The second semi-final between Leong Chun Yan and Jordan Ooi delivered a thrilling contest. Chun Yan finished Day 1 4 up, but Jordan staged an impressive fightback on Day 2, briefly taking the lead at 1 up on the 8th hole and holding it steadily through the 11th. Chun Yan then fought back to bring the match to all square, before producing composed golf down the stretch to regain control and close out the match 3&1 on the 17th hole.
FINALS | 07 – 08 FEBRUARY 2026
The Final brought together two players from very different Championship journeys — threetime Club Champion (2020, 2024 and 2025) Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid against Leong Chun Yan, who was making his second final appearance after first reaching it in 2023.
Played over 36 holes on the Old Course, the match was competitive from the start. Faiq made the early move on Day 1 and built a lead through the front nine, while Chun Yan stayed steady and kept the gap within reach. By the end of the first round, the match remained open heading into Day 2.
The second day saw both players trade holes at key moments. Chun Yan produced a strong mid-round fightback to narrow the margin, while Faiq responded with timely wins to stay ahead. With neither player able to break clear, the match finished all square after 36 holes, forcing a sudden-death play-off. The play-off was held on the 1st hole of the Old Course, where Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid secured the winning advantage to successfully defend the Championship title.
Faiq’s victory adds another chapter to an already impressive Club Championship record, built on consistency, experience and composure under match play pressure. At the same time, Leong Chun Yan deserves equal recognition for an excellent Championship run. Reaching his second Final and extending the match into a play-off reflects both growth and resilience, and marks him as a strong contender in future editions.
Congratulations to Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid on capturing the 2026 RSGC Men’s Club Championship title, and well done to all players who took part in this year’s match play stages.
FROM THE CHAMPION — MOHD FAIQ ABU SAHID
Following his successful title defence and fourth Men’s Club Championship win, we caught up with Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid to share his thoughts on this year’s match play run and his experience competing once again at the highest level of the Club Championship.
1. You’ve now won the Men’s Club Championship four times — what has helped you stay consistent in match play over the years?
A big part of it is the amount of time I put into training. I really ramp up my preparation leading into the Championship, on the course, at the range, and in the gym. Just as important is going in mentally strong and feeling prepared. Over the years, that consistency in preparation has helped me stay steady in match play situations.
2. Match play brings a very different kind of pressure compared to stroke play. What was your key focus throughout this year’s match play rounds?
My main focus was to push early and try to get myself into a good position from the start, to play on the front foot rather than always chasing. In match play, momentum matters a lot, so I wanted to set the tone early while still staying patient and composed throughout the round.
3. The Final went the full distance and into a play-off. What was going through your mind heading into the extra hole?
First of all, full credit to Chun Yan, he was incredibly steady, calm, and relentless throughout the match. He’s easily one of the most composed opponents I’ve faced in this Championship, and he really made me earn it. Heading into the extra hole, I felt like I had good momentum, similar to how I approached the 18th. With my foot already on the pedal, I just committed to staying aggressive, trusted the rhythm I had built, and pushed through with it.
4. You’ve been one of the most consistent performers in this Championship — what advice would you share with members aiming to make a deep run in match play events?
Try to peak at the right time. The Club Championship is a marathon, not a sprint. What you did in the previous holes doesn’t really matter, what matters is how you play this hole and the next. Stay present, manage your energy across the rounds, and back your preparation when it counts. Alhamdulillah these protocols have helped me over the years.
Once again, congratulations to Mohd Faiq Abu Sahid on an outstanding Championship run and a well-earned fourth Men’s Club Championship title. Champion, well played.
