At just 17, Thailand’s Namo Luangnitikul made her first appearance at RSGC one to remember, emerging as the Champion of the 49th RSGC Ladies’ Amateur Open Championship 2026 and lifting the prestigious Piala Tuanku Bahiyah.
Namo finished the three-day Championship with a total score of 215, ahead of a competitive international field of 48 players from 11 countries.
Having taken up golf at the age of six, Namo has competed in tournaments across several countries, including Malaysia, India and Japan. Her journey will soon take another significant step when she begins her college career at the University of Oregon in January.
Following her victory, we caught up with Namo to hear about her first experience at RSGC, her approach to the three challenging rounds on the East Course, what the victory means to her and the next chapter of her golfing journey
Q: Congratulations, Namo, on winning the Piala Tuanku Bahiyah! What does it mean to you to win such a prestigious Championship, especially on your first visit to RSGC?
“Thank you! Winning the RSGC Championship on my first visit really means a lot to me. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to compete here alongside some of Asia’s best.”
Q: This was your first time playing at RSGC. What was your first impression of the Club and the golf course?
“The course was beautiful, and I loved the views of the city from almost every hole. It was really amazing to see. The golf course itself was also in great condition, with super fast greens and tough pin positions, which made it quite challenging. I really enjoyed my first experience here and felt very welcomed throughout the week.”
Q: With 48 players representing 11 countries, the field was very competitive. What do you think was the key to your performance this week?
“My mindset for the week was just to hit as many greens as possible and take those opportunities as they came. As I mentioned, the greens were rolling quite fast, so I wanted to avoid making as many mistakes as possible from outside the green. I just tried to stay patient, focus on one shot at a time, and not rush anything. I trusted my putter to do its job and tried to let the week take care of itself.”
Q: You are still at an exciting stage of your amateur golf career. How do you hope this victory will help you as you continue your journey in golf?
“This win really means a lot to me, especially with how my golf game has been this year. It reminded me that the work I’ve been putting in is going towards something and that I can compete and perform well in strong fields. More importantly, I learned so much from this experience, and it gave me a little extra motivation to keep working and keep improving.
Q: Now that you have the Piala Tuanku Bahiyah, what is the next goal you would like to achieve in your golf career?
“Right now, I’m really looking forward to starting college at the University of Oregon in January and beginning the next chapter of my golf journey. I’m excited to learn, compete at the collegiate level, and continue improving both on and off the golf course. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings!”
