2024 ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour
ThreeBond Advanced Challenge Tour
Press release
2024/10/14
The ThreeBond Advanced Challenge Tour, with a total prize fund of NT$1.1 million, will kick off tomorrow (15th) at Nan Yi Golf Country Club in Tainan. This is the first time Nan Yi Golf Course has co-hosted the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour, and it marks the seventh consecutive year that Advanced International has sponsored Taiwan's men's professional golf tournaments. Last year’s champion, Su Ching-hung (who was still an amateur at the time), will be seeking to defend his title.
The tournament champion will receive NT$250,000 (the original prize was NT$150,000, but PARJET CO., LTD's Chairman Lin Zhao-hsien added an extra NT$100,000). The runner-up will receive NT$75,000, and the third-place finisher will get NT$50,000. The competition follows a no-cut format, and after the second round, prize money will be awarded to the top 40 players based on their performance.
This tournament consists of two rounds, spanning 36 holes, with 81 players competing, including 76 professionals and 5 amateurs. It is the seventh stop of this year's ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour.
Last year's champion, Su Ching-hung, has turned professional and already secured three victories in this year’s ThreeBond Challenge Tour. He is not only aiming to defend his title this week but also pursuing his fourth win of the season. Additionally, Hsieh Min-hsuan, Chen Chieh-sheng, and Hsiao He-yu, who have each claimed one title on the Challenge Tour this year, are also targeting their second win.
Today, a pro-am tournament was held, pairing 15 professional players with 45 amateur golfers from various industries. The weather was mostly sunny, and the course conditions were excellent, providing an enjoyable day of golf for all participants.
Advanced International’s General Manager, Zhou Yi-nan, stated that the company faced some challenges last year but has since overcome them. With a determined attitude, Advanced International remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s men's professional golf and will continue to sponsor this tournament.
Advanced International co-hosted the ThreeBond Advanced Fu-hsing tournament in September 2018 with TAIWAN FU HSING and has been the sole title sponsor since 2019, making this their seventh consecutive year supporting the men's Challenge Tour.
Amateur Prizes:
The champion will receive a prize sponsored by DUNLOP, which includes 5 dozen SRIXON Z-STAR XV golf balls and an OMNIX golf bag provided by Shang Chong International Co., Ltd.
The top three amateur players will each receive a TaylorMade Qi10 Driver from Advanced International.
The course spans a total of 7,256 yards. For tomorrow’s first round, players will tee off from the 1st and 10th tees simultaneously. The first group will start at 7:00 AM, and the final group will tee off at 9:10 AM, with play expected to conclude around 2:00 PM.
Nan Yi Golf Course is in excellent condition. The fairways are dense with long grass, offering a challenge for both long and short hitters. The greens are smooth, with a speed of about 8.5. However, the contours and slopes of the greens, as well as the surrounding rough, will present additional challenges for the players. Most of the male golfers are not very familiar with this course, making the two rounds particularly challenging.
Special Tournament Awards:
Hole-in-One Prize:
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On holes 3, 8, 13, and 15, Nan Yi Golf Course is offering NT$30,000 and a sponsored product for the first professional player to make a hole-in-one.
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Advanced International is offering a NT$100,000 prize to the first player (professional or amateur) to make a hole-in-one on any of the four par-3 holes during the two rounds (October 15-16). If no hole-in-one is made, the NT$100,000 will be donated to TPGA as a fund to promote golf development.
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On hole 13, Tung Hui Watch Co. is sponsoring a luxury ORIS watch worth NT$118,000 for the first professional player to make a hole-in-one during the tournament.
Lowest Round Prize:
A prize of NT$20,000 will be awarded to the player with the lowest round score each day (sponsored by Great International Hydronix Corp.’s Chairman Wang Fu-chung). The maximum daily payout for this award is NT$40,000, and both professional and amateur players are eligible.
Closest to the Pin on the Second Shot (Hole 18):
Advanced International is sponsoring a NT$20,000 prize for the professional player with the closest approach shot to the pin on hole 18 during the two rounds.
Advanced International has also prepared special gifts from the century-old bakery "Jiu Zhen Nan" for each guest and participant, allowing them to experience the warmth and hospitality of southern Taiwan.
ThreeBond is an international company from Japan specializing in the manufacturing of adhesives. They have been long-time sponsors of TPGA, working with former TPGA Chairman and current ThreeBond Challenge Tour Executive Director Chen Chih-chung for over 30 years. This year marks the 10th year that ThreeBond has served as the title sponsor for the TPGA Challenge Tour, which continues with a total of 9 events this year.
TAIWAN FU HSING Co., Ltd. Chairman Lin Rui-zhang has further increased the prize fund this year, offering NT$500,000, NT$300,000, and NT$200,000 to the top three players on the annual TPGA and ThreeBond Challenge Tour money lists, for a total of NT$2 million.
Spectators are welcome to attend the event. Please visit the course counter to pay a cleaning and facility fee of NT$30, and upon presenting your receipt, you will receive a tournament pass and a complimentary bottle of water from the association. Spectators must walk on designated paths, avoid entering the fairways, and maintain a safe distance. Mobile phones should be set to silent or vibrate, and please remain quiet while players are teeing off. No golf carts will be provided for transportation between holes. For safety reasons, children under the age of six and pets are not allowed on the course.
