Nagasaki Targets Royal Junior Success

Tokyo, Japan: Taisei Nagasaki will relish the opportunity to return to the heat of battle when he spearheads Japanese hopes in the fifth edition of The Royal Junior, one of the most high-profile showcases for the region’s talented young golfers.

Almost six months have passed since Nagasaki’s dramatic play-off loss to Thailand’s Pongsapak ‘Fifa’ Laopakdee in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) in Dubai.

Inevitably, however, the pain still lingers, exacerbated last week when Nagasaki watched on as Fifa teed-up in the Masters Tournament.

Had the Japanese teenager held on to his six-stroke lead heading into the final round at the Emirates Golf Club it would have been Nagasaki rather than Fifa rubbing shoulders with the game’s superstars at Augusta National. And it would be Nagasaki, instead of Fifa, preparing for a trip to England to contest July’s Open Championship.

For Nagasaki, who broke down in tears in the immediate aftermath of that devastating extra-time defeat in Dubai, The Royal Junior presents him with a chance to add to his collection of trophies.

A further incentive is provided by the fact that the winner of the 54-hole event at The Royal Club (April 17-19) will earn a trip to England to compete in the 131st Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool and West Lancashire in June.

Joint fourth at last year’s Royal Junior, Nagasaki is currently 146th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The only two players in the boys’ line-up ahead of him in the standings are Thailand’s Parin Sarasmut (123rd) and Vietnam’s Nguyen Tuan Anh (144th).

The highest rated player in the girls’ category is Singapore’s Chen Xingtong (147th). Runner-up in last year’s US Junior Girls championship, Chen will be bidding to become the first non-Japanese female to top the leaderboard.

Last year, her compatriot, Brayden Lee, created history as the first overseas male to triumph in the boys’ division.

The winning girl will receive an exemption into the 123rd Women's Amateur Championship at Scotland's Muirfield Golf Club in late June as well as next year's Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in Japan.

Organised by Nippon Kabaya Ohayo Holdings Inc and approved by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and The R&A, The Royal Junior is also supported by the Japan Golf Association, Japan High School and Junior High School Golf Association.

With the aim of nurturing and developing the next generation of international golfers, the tournament includes 40 boys and 40 girls. The top players outside of Japan are selected by the APGC. All players must be under the age of 18 years old as of March 31, 2026.