Shannon Tan won bronze in the women's individual event on 3 Oct, clinching Singapore's first golf medal at the Asian Games. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua
After clinching Singapore’s first golf medal at the Asian Games, Shannon Tan hopes her historic bronze at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition will inspire other young golfers to strive for excellence.
The 22-year-old overcame a slow start on 3 Oct at the Kasugai Country Club’s East Course to score two-under 68 in the final round with a total of 14-under 266 over four rounds. In doing so, she tied second with former world No. 1 and Major winner Yin Ruoning to force a play-off for silver. India’s Pranavi Sharath Urs took gold with her total of 15-under 265.
Singaporeans Chen Xingtong and Amanda Tan finished 22nd and tied-25th in the individual event. Singapore was tied-fourth in the women’s team event, with team scores calculated by adding the scores of a team’s two best players.
In the play-off on the first hole, which had a par of four, Yin secured silver with her even-par effort after Tan’s par putt lipped out.
Tan, who recovered from two bogeys and a double bogey in the front nine to shoot four birdies in five holes on the back nine, said she felt “a mixture” of emotions after the play-off.
“To get myself in that position is something that I should be quite proud of. Shooting four-under (in) the back nine, getting back in position, being one off the lead with two holes to go – quite proud of (myself) for doing that,” said the the three-time Ladies European Tour winner.
In professional golf, play-offs take place for the title position. Tan, who turned pro in 2024, said: “That felt a bit different going into it, because on the last two, I was hoping to chip in just to maybe force the play-off for gold; that was my main target. Basically, going into today wasn’t really (about) second or third, it was just ‘I want to win gold’ and pretty much what I do for every event.”
Disappointment aside, Tan acknowledged that being the first Singapore golfer to win an Asiad medal is “quite special”.
“Hopefully, that shows other junior golfers and golfers back home that it's possible to excel in golf and just to do all these things in golf,” she added.
“Hopefully, I can be that role model for kids to want to pick up golf and want to try golf to begin with. It definitely means a lot. To do it for Singapore as well, and to get a medal for Singapore just means a lot to me as well.”
Tan is the first Singaporean golfer to qualify for the Olympic Games – she played at the Paris 2024 Games – and she enjoyed the team element of her maiden Asian Games outing.
“Golf is such an individual sport, and you're sort of just playing against everyone out there. But I think to have teammates and to have a team event as well is quite special, to know that you’ve got the support of other competitors in this event,” added Tan, revealing that she had felt more nervous than usual before the first round.“The night before, I told myself I know that I’m going to be nervous but I was like, ‘I’ve done this at the Olympics, and you’ve been in that stage, you’ve been in big events before, so just go into it like how you normally would.”
“Easier said than done, but I think I managed it pretty well.”
In the men’s individual event, Hiroshi Tai carded a six-under 64 for a total of seven-under 273 to finish joint-11th while James Leow was tied 19th. Teammate Nicklaus Chiam did not make the cut for the individual event, but shot an even-par 70 and two-under 68 in the final two rounds of the team event. Singapore were eighth in the men’s team event.
Tai was happy with his final-round performance at his first Asian Games, noting that he treats every round as a new round. The 24-year-old amateur, who in 2025 was the first Singaporean to compete in the Masters, added: “It’s pretty rare for all of us to be teammates, especially now that all of us are older and turning professional. Me, Nicklaus and James – we all played in the SEA Games together in 2019, so I guess we all have a prior relationship and know one another pretty well. It’s been a lot of fun spending time with them again this week.”
The 20th Asian Games are held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.