2024/12/27

The 2024 ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour final event, the T.C. Chen Elite Challenge

Tour, with a total prize fund of TWD 1.5 million, teed off today (November 27) at the

Miramar Golf Country Club. Hsiao He-yu shot a 1-under-par 71 to lead the field and

was the only player to post a subpar score in the first round.

Four players are tied for second at even-par 72, including Lin Wei, Chen Ke-yi, Chan

Ting-li, and Chen Chieh-sheng.

Su Ching-hung, who has already secured the title of this year’s ThreeBond Challenge

Tour Prize Leader, and Chen Wei-sheng both carded 73 and are tied for sixth,

remaining within striking distance of the lead heading into the final round tomorrow.

Hsiao He-yu made three birdies and two bogeys in his round. Paired with Su Ching-

hung, he started from the first hole. On the par-5 4th hole, he reached the green in

two but missed a 7-foot eagle putt, settling for birdie. He also made birdies on the

par-4 10th (tap-in) and 13th (9-foot putt). His bogeys resulted from misjudged chip

shots, leaving him with difficult par putts that he couldn’t convert.

After the round, Hsiao remarked that the windy conditions and challenging pin

positions made the course tough. He credited his solid driving and iron play but

admitted struggling to read the greens and manage putt speed, missing par-saving

putts on two or three holes.

Currently ranked second in the annual prize money standings, Hsiao holds a TWD

53,000 lead over fourth-ranked Chen Po-hao (third-ranked Hsieh Min-hsuan is

absent from this event). Hsiao aims to secure the championship while defending his

position as runner-up in the prize rankings.

Su Ching-hung posted a round of three birdies and four bogeys, saying he found

today’s play frustrating. On the front nine, he managed three birdies against two

bogeys, including a 21-foot birdie putt on the first hole, a tap-in birdie on the par-5

4th, and a 9-foot birdie putt on the 5th. However, on the back nine, he struggled

with inconsistent winds and poor distance control with his irons, leaving him few

birdie opportunities and resulting in two bogeys due to errors.

Reflecting on the season, Su noted that while he performed well in the Taiwan Tour

earlier this year, he initially found success elusive on the Challenge Tour. After

claiming his first Challenge Tour victory at the Yangde Challenge Tour event on June

6, he gained momentum, winning four events to date. Su is now chasing his fifth

Challenge Tour title of the year.

Lin Wei, who shot an even-par 72, had a rollercoaster round with eight birdies offset

by significant mistakes. He opened with a quadruple bogey on the first hole,

followed by consecutive bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd holes, dropping six shots in the

first three holes. Although he fought back with birdies, a double bogey later in the

round erased further gains. Despite the setbacks, Lin remains in contention for the

title tomorrow.

The Miramar Golf Country Club presented sunny but chilly conditions, with morning

temperatures ranging from 12 to 15 degrees Celsius and strong winds. The tricky

greens added to the challenge, testing players’ chipping and putting skills.

The final round will take place tomorrow, with players teeing off simultaneously

from the first and tenth tees in pairs. The first group will start at 7:00 AM, and the

last group at 8:30 AM, with the competition expected to conclude by 1:30 PM.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of ThreeBond’s title sponsorship of the TPGA

Challenge Tour. To celebrate the milestone and honor the support of former TPGA

Chairman Chen Tze-chung, ThreeBond renamed the final event to the "T.C. Chen

Elite Challenge Tour" and increased the prize fund from TWD 1 million to TWD 1.5

million. The winner’s prize has also been raised to TWD 270,000.

With the final standings influencing not only the tournament championship but also

the annual prize leader title, additional bonuses, and qualification for next year’s

Challenge Tour and Taiwan Tour, players are highly motivated to perform their best.

The 36-hole, two-round final event is a no-cut competition featuring 40 players,

including the top 34 players from the most recent Challenge Tour prize rankings, two

Taiwan Tour seed players, and players recommended by the event’s organizers and

sponsors. All participants will receive prize money, with players finishing in 36th to

40th place earning TWD 10,000 each.

The event is sponsored by ThreeBond, organized by the Taiwan Professional Golf

Association, and co-organized by the Miramar Golf Country Club. The course

measures 6,784 yards and covers the East and North sections of the club.

The winner of the ThreeBond Challenge Tour Prize Leader title will receive a special

bonus of TWD 500,000 provided by Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., with TWD

300,000 and TWD 200,000 awarded to the second- and third-ranked players,

respectively. The top three players in the annual prize rankings will also qualify for

next year’s Taiwan Tour.

Currently, the top 10 players in the ThreeBond Challenge Tour annual prize rankings

are:

1. Su Ching-hung – TWD 842,500

2. Hsiao He-yu – TWD 367,462

3. Hsieh Min-hsuan – TWD 352,114

4. Chen Po-hao – TWD 314,250

5. Chen Chieh-sheng – TWD 266,539

6. Chang Chien Ko-yen – TWD 234,564

7. Tseng Tzu-hsuan – TWD 162,389

8. Tsai Jui-heng – TWD 138,264

9. Chan Ting-li – TWD 137,030

10. Yeh Chia-yin – TWD 134,800

Although Su Ching-hung has already secured the Prize Leader title with his four

victories, players ranked second to tenth still have a chance to move into the top

three by winning this event, earning additional bonuses.

Chairman Lin Jui-chang of Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co. continues to sponsor the

prize leader bonuses for the TPGA Taiwan Tour and ThreeBond Challenge Tour. This

year marks the sixth consecutive year of his support, with a total bonus pool of TWD

2 million divided among the top three players of both tours.

The prize presentation ceremony for the ThreeBond Challenge Tour Prize Leader and

second- and third-ranked players will be held during the Pro-Am gala dinner on

November 29.

Special Awards:

Hole-in-One Prizes:

Available on East Course holes 2 and 7, and North Course holes 3 and 7, with prizes

sponsored by the respective course vendors.

ThreeBond, a multinational corporation specializing in adhesives, has been the title

sponsor of the TPGA Challenge Tour for 10 years, thanks to the efforts of former

TPGA Chairman and current Challenge Tour Executive Director Chen Tze-chung.

This year’s ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour consisted of nine events. The first eight

offered a total prize fund of TWD 1 million each, with TWD 150,000 for the winner.

The ninth and final event features a TWD 1.5 million prize fund, with TWD 270,000

awarded to the winner.

Golf enthusiasts are invited to watch this highly competitive and thrilling tournament

at the Miramar Golf Country Club.

Spectator Guidelines:

The course is open to spectators and their families during the tournament. (No

cleaning or facility fees are required, but attendees must complete a waiver at the

starting station to receive a spectator badge.) Spectator badges should be visibly

worn for staff inspection. Spectators are advised to avoid entering fairways, maintain

a safe distance, and prioritize personal safety. All attendees must stay on cart paths

and are prohibited from using golf carts. The course does not provide transportation

between holes. For safety reasons, children under six and pets are not

recommended to attend.