Overnight co-leader Lin C-Y (林晟毓) recorded his first professional victory today at the NT$1 million ThreeBond “Kaohsiung City Paradigm Father” Challenger, fending off the challenge from Lin W (林緯) after one play-off hole.
“It felt surreal. I finally made it. It was one of the greatest moments of my career for sure,” said the 28-year-old, who is playing in his sixth season on the TPGA Tour. “Thanks to my brother, who trains with me so I don’t feel so alone, and everyone around me, the family, the Tong Hwa Club and the Tao Yuan Club for providing the training facilities. It has been a tough wait. I feel thankful and humbled.”
This week at the Kaohsiung Golf & Country Club, joined by 86 PGA pros along with 10 junior and amateur players, is the third leg of the TPGA’s 2023 ThreeBond Challenge Tour, and the second consecutive ThreeBond “Kaohsiung City Paradigm Father” Challenger since 2022.
There are a total of nine ThreeBond Challengers on the 2023 calendar, which are played in a 2-day, 36-hole format. Lin’s victory is worth NT$150,000.
“My next goal will be another win on the main tour, hopefully very soon,” a joyful Lin said, who is now standing inside the top-30 on the 2023 TPGA Tour money leaderboard.
There are eight players within just one shot at the start of Wednesday’s final-round, but Lin, who played in the final group, found himself with a one-stroke cushion at hand going into the 18th hole, thanks to his impeccable iron display which earned him five birdies.
However, his tee shot on the last hole was caught by a sand trap on the left. He got onto the green in three attempts but missed the par save from nine feet, ending up sharing his lead with Lin W (林緯) on 6-under 138.
The pair returned to the 18th tee for the tie-breaker. While Lin W (林緯) sent the ball to 75 yards, safely on the fairway, Lin C-Y (林晟毓) recovered from the shadow of the bogey experience, bringing the ball to just 40 yards this time, and then beautifully set up a winning 5-foot birdie putt. Lin W (林緯) failed to sink his own 9-footer to extend the tussle.
“I wasn’t actually too sharp with my putter the entire day. I could barely made one putt from more than three feet,” Lin C-Y (林晟毓) said. “But I made that 5-footer at the most important moment, in the sudden-death play-off. I was really proud of myself.”
“Again, I want to thank my brother W-J (林煒傑). He is always the more hard-working boy of us two and always pushes me to do more. Without him, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have now.”
ThreeBond is a manufacturer and one of the international leaders in industrial adhesives, sealants and coatings. The Japan-based company has been collaborating with Taiwanese golf legend and former TPGA chairman T-C Chen (陳志忠), who was the very first player from Taiwan to ever win on the PGA Tour at the 1987 Los Angeles Open, for more than 40 years. The TPGA ThreeBond Challenge Tour is now in its ninth season.
