14 yr old Chaitanya Pandey Makes Strong Start to International Debut at the Singapore Open Amateur Championship

15 July, 2026 : Fourteen-year-old Chaitanya Pandey of RBG Academy has made an impressive start to his first international appearance representing India at the prestigious 78th Singapore Open Amateur Championship.

Competing against many of Asia’s leading amateur golfers at the renowned Singapore Island Country Club – Bukit Course, Chaitanya has completed the opening two rounds in 1-over par (143), placing him T25 heading into the final two rounds.

Representing India for the first time overseas is a significant milestone in the young golfer’s career, and his performance so far has demonstrated both skill and maturity well beyond his years.

Round One – A Calm Introduction to International Competition

Chaitanya opened the championship with an excellent 70 (-1), immediately announcing himself in a highly competitive international field.

His round was built on disciplined course management and patience, featuring:

• Birdies on the 4th and 15th holes.

• Just two bogeys throughout the day.

• Sixteen holes played at par or better.

• Even-par front nine followed by a one-under-par back nine.

The round reflected excellent decision-making and emotional control, allowing him to settle comfortably into championship golf despite making his international debut.

Round Two – A Test of Character

Day two provided a different challenge.

After an impressive outward nine of 34 (-1), Chaitanya was once again positioned for another outstanding score before encountering difficulty on the 13th hole, resulting in a triple bogey.

What followed was perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the day.

Rather than allowing one difficult hole to derail his round, he regrouped immediately, playing the closing stretch with composure before finishing with a birdie on the 18th to sign for 73 (+2).

The response highlighted an important quality seen in successful elite golfers—the ability to recover mentally after adversity.

Performance Through 36 Holes

Through the opening two rounds, Chaitanya has shown numerous encouraging signs:

• Rounds: 70, 73

• Total: 143 (+1)

• Position: T25 after 36 holes

• An under-par opening round in his first international appearance.

• Consistent ball striking and disciplined course management.

• Excellent resilience after setbacks.

• Mature decision-making under tournament pressure.

Apart from one costly hole in Round Two, Chaitanya has played remarkably consistent golf throughout the championship, reinforcing the quality of his overall game.

Coach’s Assessment

For a 14-year-old competing overseas for the first time in Indian colours, Chaitanya has demonstrated remarkable composure and professionalism.

The experience of competing against one of Asia’s strongest amateur fields is already proving invaluable, and his performance reflects the technical preparation and mental resilience developed through the RBG Academy programme.

Looking Ahead

With 36 holes still to play, Chaitanya remains well placed to continue climbing the leaderboard.

More importantly, he has shown that he belongs at this level of competition. His opening two rounds have laid a strong foundation, and the focus now shifts to building on that momentum over the final two days.

Regardless of the final result, these first two rounds mark an important step in the development of one of India’s promising young golfers and provide another proud moment for RBG Academy as it continues to develop players capable of competing on the international stage.

The tournament may only be halfway through, but Chaitanya Pandey has already demonstrated that he has both the game and the mindset to compete with Asia’s best.