2023/9/5
The ThreeBond Advanced Challenge, offering a total prize of NT$1 million, kicked off today (September 5) at the HSIN YI GOLF CLUB in Kaohsiung. Professional golfer WANG CHENG CHI showcased an excellent performance with a score of 70, two strokes below the standard par, securing the temporary lead and winning the lowest score of the day, earning NT$20,000. Amateur golfers SU JIN HONG, Tsai Chi Huang, and American player SHOTARO BAN all finished with scores of 71, just one stroke behind, and are currently tied for second place.
Three other players, CHEN PO HAO, CHEN KE YI, and CHEN CHIEH SHENG, completed the round with scores of 72, trailing by two strokes, and are currently tied for fifth place.
The final round of the tournament, where competitors will vie for the championship trophy and the first-place prize of NT$250,000, will take place tomorrow.
In the nearest-to-the-pin competition on the ninth hole, PAN GUAN WEN came closest to the hole at 433 centimeters, earning a prize of NT$20,000.
This tournament consists of two rounds totaling 36 holes and features 92 participants, including 82 professional golfers and 10 amateurs, making it the seventh stop on this year's ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour.
ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO., LTD. previously co-hosted the ThreeBond ADVANCED FU HSING Challenge with TAIWAN FU HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. in September 2018. Since 2019, they have been the sole title sponsor for this event, continuing for six consecutive years, supporting professional golf tournaments in Taiwan.
This event is the second ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour event hosted at HSIN YI GOLF CLUB this year, with the previous one being the ThreeBond Cheng Guan Yuan Challenge on April 26-27.
Despite the impact of Typhoon Haikui in Taiwan over the past two days, which brought heavy winds and rain, the golf course's trees remained largely undamaged. The weather today was partly cloudy, and while the fairways were slightly wet, the greens still allowed for effective putting. However, the rough areas posed a greater challenge for golfers.
WANG CHENG CHI, who currently leads the tournament, displayed excellent chipping and putting skills today. He achieved an eagle, three birdies, and a double bogey ("double-bogey") on the fifth hole. On the fourth hole, a par-five, he hit his second shot 45 yards from the flagstick and then sank a 58-degree chip shot for an eagle. In the front nine holes (holes 10 through 18), he birdied three times, sinking putts of 12 feet, 8 feet, and 2 feet on the 12th, 16th, and 18th holes, respectively. However, on the second hole, he failed to reach the green in regulation and, with a six-foot par putt, recorded a double bogey. Additionally, on the long par-five eighth hole, his second shot, a three-wood, went left out of bounds, resulting in a double bogey.
Despite struggling with hitting greens in regulation, WANG CHENG CHI's short game, particularly his chipping and putting, proved to be his strengths today. He only reached seven greens in regulation but made 22 putts.
WANG CHENG CHI, a native of Kaohsiung, formerly pursued a professional golf career for nine years but has been working at his family's factory in Kaohsiung since 2017. He now treats golf as a hobby and plays in occasional challenge events, maintaining a more relaxed mindset. This year, he participated in more tournaments than in previous years, mainly due to the increased number of TPGA events in southern Taiwan.
Amateur golfer SU JIN HONG, who played consistently well today, recorded several eagles and birdies, as well as a double bogey. He started from the 10th hole and remained steady throughout the round. After parring the first eight holes, he hit an eagle from 30 yards on the 18th hole, finishing with a 34 on the back nine. However, the front nine presented more challenges, with mistakes on the first and third holes, resulting in two bogeys. Nevertheless, he birdied the sixth hole with a 12-yard chip shot and the seventh hole with a 12-yard putt, making consecutive birdies. Unfortunately, on the eighth hole, his second shot with a three-wood went out of bounds, resulting in a double bogey and a score of 37 for the front nine. Despite hitting only five fairways with his tee shots, SU JIN HONG's iron play was solid, and his chipping and putting were exceptional, with 10 greens in regulation and 25 putts.
SU JIN HONG hails from Li Gang, Pingtung, and received training at Da Gang Shan Golf Course. He is familiar with the HSIN YI GOLF CLUB due to his participation in amateur tournaments there. He will represent Chinese Taipei in golf at the Hangzhou Asian Games later this month as the only amateur player on the men's national team. The other three team members are professional golfers HUNG CHIEN YAO, YEH YU CHEN, and WANG WEI-HSUAN.
Additionally, Tsai Chi Huang, a Changchun player, displayed consistent ball-striking today, recording two birdies and one double bogey. He is only one stroke behind the leaders, making him a strong contender in tomorrow's championship race.
SHOTARO BAN, a Chinese-American golfer, recorded three birdies and two double bogeys, trailing the leaders by just one stroke and remaining in contention for the championship tomorrow.
CHEN PO HAO, who is known for his competitive spirit, exhibited precise iron shots and putting. After 17 holes, he had three birdies and one double bogey, finishing two strokes below par. He is currently tied with the leader, WANG CHENG CHI, who has already completed his round. Unfortunately, on the final hole, the 18th, his tee shot went out of bounds, resulting in a double bogey. His final score was 72, trailing the leader by two strokes. CHEN PO HAO, however, expressed confidence and determination to catch up and contend for the championship tomorrow.
Today's round saw several successful chip-ins and putts, showcasing the skill and determination of the players. The championship offers a first-place prize of NT$250,000 (increased from the original NT$150,000, thanks to an additional sponsorship of NT$100,000 from PARJET CO., LTD., Chairman LIN CHAO-HSIEN), with NT$75,000 for second place and NT$50,000 for third. The tournament follows a no-cut format, and after the conclusion of the second round, prizes will be awarded to the top 40 players based on their scores.
Amateur golfers who finish in the top three will receive prizes. ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO., LTD. will provide each of them with a TaylorMade Stealth
2 Driver.
Amateur champion's prize: Sponsored by DUNLOP NATIONAL COMPANY, the champion will receive a set of SRIXON TRI-STAR 5 golf balls and a golf bag provided by SHANG CHONG INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
The course for this tournament measures 7,484 yards in total length. The final round will take place tomorrow, with players starting from both the first and tenth holes. The first group will tee off at 6:30 AM, and the last group will start at 8:25 AM. The awards ceremony is expected to take place around 1:30 PM after the conclusion of play, with a presentation ceremony at approximately 2:00 PM.
During the tournament, special awards will be presented:
- Hole-in-one awards:
(1) Four short par-3 holes (holes 3, 6, 13, and 17) will offer NT$20,000 to the first professional golfer who scores a hole-in-one.
(2) Hole 13, sponsored by SOUNDBEST INTERNATIONAL SOURCING INC., will provide NT$20,000 to the first player who scores a hole-in-one during the second round of the tournament on September 5-6.
(3) Hole 17 (this award is limited to professional players), sponsored by Tung Hui Watch Co., offers a HUBLOT ORIS watch valued at NT$118,000 to the first player who scores a hole-in-one during the second round of the tournament on September 5-6.
(4) Launch Technologies Company will provide NT$100,000 for each of the four short par-3 holes if any player scores a hole-in-one during the two rounds of the tournament. If no player achieves a hole-in-one by the end of the tournament, Launch Technologies Company will donate NT$100,000 to TPGA to support the development of golf.
- Nearest-to-the-pin on the second shot on the ninth hole: Launch Technologies Company will award NT$20,000 to the player who hits the closest second shot during the two rounds of the tournament.
- Course record-breaking award (previous record held by amateur golfer Chen Ji-Qun with a score of 63): HSIN YI GOLF CLUB will provide an award of NT$20,000.
- Lowest score per round (open to both professional and amateur players): Sponsored by Mr. Wang Fu-Chung, NT$20,000 will be awarded to the player with the lowest score for each round during the tournament on September 5-6.
ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL MULTITECH CO., LTD. has prepared gifts from the century-old bakery "Jiu Zhen Nan" for all guests and participants, extending their warm hospitality to both VIPs and players.
The organizers have put considerable effort into hosting the event, motivating players to actively participate and give their best performance.
ThreeBond is an international manufacturer that specializes in adhesives. They have been the title sponsor for the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour for nine years, with Mr. Chen Chih-Chung serving as the Executive Director for the ThreeBond Challenge Tour for over 30 years. This year, the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour consists of a total of nine events.
TAIWAN FU HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., Chairman LIN RUI-ZHANG, has added an additional incentive by providing NT$500,000, NT$300,000, and NT$200,000 in prize money for the top three players in the annual rankings of the TPGA Tour and the ThreeBond Challenge Tour, totaling NT$2 million.
Spectators are welcome to attend the event. Prior to entering the course, please visit the clubhouse and pay the cleaning and facility fee of NT$30. Afterward, proceed to the tournament's service desk to complete registration and receive a spectator pass. Please stay on the cart paths, avoid entering the fairways, maintain a safe distance, and keep your phones on silent or vibrate during player tee-offs. Spectators are not allowed to ride in golf carts, and the course does not provide shuttle services between holes. For safety reasons, children under six years of age and pets are not permitted on the course.
Media Contact:
Mr. Wu Bin-Yang - 0936-104481
Ms. Sunny Liu - 0936-198346
Photos provided by the tournament / Photographer: Lin Sheng-Kai
