The 2024 ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour Opening
Round 1 Press Conference
2024/4/17
LAI CHIA I leads the field with an impressive score of 66 strokes.
The 2024 ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour opened its first round today (April 17th) at Bombax Golf Course in Tainan. LAI CHIA I soared into the lead with a remarkable score of 66 strokes, below the standard par. Following closely behind are three players: Chen Po Hao, Su Ching Hung, and Hsieh Min Hsuan, all with scores of 67 strokes, tied for second place. Tomorrow will see the final round, where the championship will be contested.
Three other players, Tseng Hong Sheng, Chen Yu Yu, and Wang Li-Wei, are currently tied for fifth place with scores of 68 strokes, trailing by two strokes. They will also have a chance to contend for the title tomorrow.
This tournament marks the first leg of the Taiwan Professional Golf Association (TPGA) ThreeBond Challenge Tour for the year 2024, with a total prize pool of NT$1 million and NT$150,000 for the champion. Co-hosted by TPGA and ThreeBond, and with Bombax Golf Club as the main sponsor and venue co-organizer, a total of 86 professional players and 10 amateur players are competing for the inaugural championship of the year.
Among the 86 professional players are one American and one South African, alongside 84 Taiwanese professional players. The course measures a total length of 7,182 yards.
Amateur players Hu Yu Tang and Shi Rong Wei both scored 72 strokes, currently tied for 17th place in the professional division, with the best performance among amateur players.
Defending champion Shotaro Ban from the United States scored 73 strokes, currently tied for 27th place.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Bombax Golf Course has hosted the opening leg of the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour since 2019. After the final round and award ceremony tomorrow, ThreeBond will continue its title sponsorship of the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour with a signing ceremony at the course.
Today, the weather in Tainan was hot, with a daytime temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. The course conditions were excellent, especially the greens, which received high praise from the players for their meticulous maintenance.
LAI CHIA I managed to score two eagles, four birdies, and one double bogey today. His iron and wood shots were solid, especially on the two par-5 holes. On the 511-yard ninth hole, he hit a perfect approach shot with an 8-iron to the green, making an eagle. On the 545-yard 13th hole, he hit a fantastic approach shot with a pitching wedge to within 6 feet of the hole, securing another eagle. He also birdied the par-5 5th hole with two solid shots to the green from 39 feet away and made a great 45-foot putt on the 15th hole. However, his only major mistake came on the par-4 3rd hole, where his drive went out of bounds, resulting in a double bogey.
He mentioned that during the recent offseason, he made several adjustments to his swing, improving his accuracy and stability. As a result, he feels more confident in his game this year.
Today (April 17th), the first round of the 2024 ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour kicked off at Bombax Golf Course in Tainan. LAI CHIA I took the lead with a stellar score of 66 strokes, six strokes under par. Following closely behind are three players—Chen Po Hao, Su Ching Hung, and Hsieh Min Hsuan—all with scores of 67 strokes, tied for second place. Tomorrow will witness the final round, where the championship will be decided.
Another player, HSIEH MIN HSUAN, just one stroke behind, scored six birdies and one bogey today. He credited his excellent performance to his solid iron, wood, and putting skills. He secured three birdies on four par-5 holes, with the farthest being a 15-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole. His longest birdie putt came on the 36-foot 6th hole, showcasing his putting prowess. He successfully hit the green on 15 holes and required only 29 putts throughout the round.
HSIEH mentioned that although he failed to qualify for the JGTO last year, the experience provided valuable insights, especially in mental fortitude under pressure and maintaining focus. He gained confidence from winning his first professional title at the Ta Kang Shan Challenge Tour last July after a playoff. He believes that his performance this year will be even better.
Another player tied for second place with a score of 67 strokes, Chen Po Hao, displayed excellent driving and putting skills today, helping him secure seven birdies and two bogeys. Three of his birdies came from 18-foot putts. On the 18th hole, a 340-yard par-4, he hit the green in one shot and made a comfortable birdie with two putts.
Chen Po Hao participated in the HAINAN BAOTING OPEN last week, finishing tied for 18th place. He plans to focus on the Taiwan Pro Golf Association (TPGA) Challenge Tour and overseas competitions this year, with the Taiwan Tour as a supplementary platform to gain more experience in international tournaments.
Su Ching Hung also scored seven birdies and two bogeys today, with excellent iron and putting accuracy. He successfully hit the green on 14 holes, requiring only 27 putts throughout the round. His longest birdie putt came on the 15-foot 18th hole, showcasing his putting skills. He made only two mistakes off the tee with his driver, demonstrating a solid performance overall.
Su Ching Hung, a trainee at Ta Kang Shan Golf Course, transitioned to a professional golfer at the end of last year. He earned his membership and Taiwan Tour qualification in February. Last September, he won the Ming An Challenge Tour at Hsin Yi Golf Course as an amateur, achieving one of his dreams. Now, he is pursuing his professional career and continuing to chase his dreams.
Tseng Hong Sheng scored one eagle, four birdies, and two bogeys today, totaling 68 strokes. His iron and putting performances were consistent, with only 28 putts throughout the round. All four of his birdie putts were within 6 feet, with his eagle coming from a 190-yard approach shot with a 4-iron on the par-5 9th hole, followed by a 2-foot putt.
Tseng Hong Sheng mentioned that he spends more time teaching at Penglai Driving Range and less time competing currently. However, he enjoys playing and competing more than before.
Two other newcomers to the professional circuit, Wang Li-Wei and Chen Yu Yu, also scored 68 strokes today. Wang Li-Wei's performance fluctuated, with two birdies, five birdies, and five bogeys. He excelled in iron and putting, but his chipping was subpar. His two eagles came from two shots on the fringe of the green on the 5th and 13th holes, respectively, both within 30 feet of the hole.
Wang Li-Wei transitioned to professional golf last September after playing the Challenge Tour for two years. After graduating from high school in Australia in 2017, he taught golf in Shanghai and Guangzhou before returning to Taiwan in 2020. Currently, he practices at Ta Kang Shan Golf Course.
Chen Yu Yu earned his professional player qualification in February this year. As a second-year student at the National Sports University, he took a semester off to complete his military service before deciding his future career path. Today, he scored five birdies and one bogey, with solid iron shots that led to 15 greens in regulation. Although he missed several birdie opportunities with his putting, he practices at Yang Sheng Golf Course.
The final round of the tournament will begin tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. from both the 1st and 10th tees, with the last group teeing off at 8:50 a.m. The competition is expected to conclude at 2:00 p.m., followed by the award ceremony. Spectators are allowed to enter the course during the competition, but they must pay a NT$20 insurance fee and sign a waiver form at the departure station to obtain a spectator pass. Spectators are strictly prohibited from riding golf carts, and shuttle service between holes is not provided.
A hole-in-one prize sponsored by TUNG HUI WATCH CO. is available on the 17th hole (199 yards) valued at NT$118,000, consisting of an ORIS watch and a one-year membership to the golf course. Additionally, a prize of NT$20,000 will be awarded for breaking the course record (66 strokes, held by Chang Tse Yu).
The amateur champion will receive prizes sponsored by DUNLOP and Shang Chong International, including SRIXON Z-STAR XV golf balls and an OMNIX golf bag.
ThreeBond, a multinational corporation specializing in adhesives, has been the title sponsor of the TPGA Challenge Tour for 10 years. This year's ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour comprises nine events.
