Lu Sun Yi (呂孫儀), who freshly earned TPGA pro status this February, bagged his first victory at the ThreeBond “Din Yue Restaurant & Recoco” Challenger today at the Ching Chuan Kang Golf Course.
The ThreeBond “Din Yue Restaurant & Recoco” Challenger is the fourth leg of the TPGA’s 2023 ThreeBond Challenge Tour. There are a total of nine ThreeBond Challengers on the 2023 calendar, which are played in a 2-day, 36-hole format. Only the top-40 finishers and ties from the 96 contestants win a share of the NT$1 million prize money.
Lu posted a final-round 4-under 68 to bring his 36-hole total to 10-under 134, notching the victory by a dominant four shots and winning himself a NT$150,000 check.
Shih Chun Yu (施俊宇) finished as the runner-up on 6-under 138. Tseng Fu Tung’s (曾豐棟) low-round 67 helped him to finish in equal third with Chan Ting Li (詹頂立) (72) and Yeh Fu (葉甫) (73) at 139.
Chang Cheng Shuo (張承碩) won the low amateur honor after a final-round 70 which put him in T24 on the final scoreboard on 1-over 145.
In just his seventh outing (after three main tour events and three ThreeBond Challengers) as a pro, Lu Sun Yi is now a TPGA Tour titlist. “I honestly did not expect the win to come so soon. I’m over the moon right now,” said the 24-year-old.
Lu and Yeh Fu, the first-round co-leaders, started the day both on 6-under. Despite dropping one shot on the 2nd hole, Lu birdied no.3, 4, 7, and 9 to arrive at the turn holding a two-shot solo lead.
Lu made a second bogey of the day on the 12th, but bounced back quickly on the par-5 13th with a 7-foot birdie. Meanwhile, Yeh could not find another gear after making an eagle on the 8th hole and eventually fell into equal third place on 5-under.
“I think the key for me today was my irons, which set up many putting opportunities. The birdie on the 13th right after a bogey was an important moment for me, where I realized I had built a six-shot lead and kind of relaxed a little mentally,” said Lu. “Still, I tried to tell myself to keep the intensity high. The game is never finished until the very last putt drops.”
Lu picked up the golf clubs when he was 10 years of age, thanks to his father who worked as a caddie at the Old Tamsui Golf Club and introduced him to the sport. “I’ve always felt a great passion for golf. It has never shaken even a bit. I’m still loving this sport so much and to win the title today just proved that I have not just the heart but really what it takes to go higher. I hope to win a tournament on the main tour soon and hopefully, I’ll have my opportunities on the Japan PGA Tour or the Asian Tour in the near future. My biggest dream would be that one day I can earn a place on the PGA Tour,” Lu said.
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, serving as the secondary pro circuit to the main TPGA Tour. Title sponsors this week are local Cantonese restaurant Din Yue and ecological firm Recoco.
