2025/10/8

The ThreeBond Advanced Challenge Tour, with a total purse of NT$1.1 million, teed off today (8th) at Hsin Yi Golf Club in Kaohsiung. Last year’s rookie professional, Tsai Chin-yang, carded a bogey-free 68 with four birdies to take the clubhouse lead at 4-under par. One shot behind at 69 were Tsai Chen-kai, Chiang Yi-an, Peng Hung-chin, Peng Hsiung, and Chang Hsun-chen, who shared second place. Tomorrow’s final round will decide the champion and the NT$250,000 winner’s prize.

Last week’s CHAU-SHI Series Wealthy Family Open champion Tsai Kai-jen, along with Lee Jui-shen, who has won twice on the Challenge Tour this year, posted 70s alongside Lin Cheng-yu and Chen Yen-yu, two strokes off the pace in a tie for seventh, still within striking distance for the title.

Professional Huang Chun-hao scored a hole-in-one on the 199-yard 6th hole using a 5-iron. He won NT$100,000 sponsored by Advanced International Group, NT$20,000 and a weekday double-room stay at Hotel Sunshine Kaohsiung, offered by Hsin Yi Golf Club. He shot 76 and currently sits tied for 47th place.

Among amateurs, Hsieh Yao-yu fired a 71 to tie for 11th, leading all ten amateurs in the field. Tseng Ssu-en carded a 74 to tie for 28th, ranking second among the amateurs.

In tomorrow’s final round, players will tee off simultaneously from holes 1 and 10, with the first group starting at 6:20 a.m. and the last at 8:45 a.m., expecting to conclude by 2 p.m.

Tsai Chin-yang made four birdies and no bogeys, including two on the par-5 4th and 18th holes, both with chip-and-putt birdies from 4 and 7 feet. He also birdied the par-3 6th with a 20-foot putt and holed another birdie on the 7th after a chip and a 5-foot putt.

After his round, Tsai shared that he started on the 10th hole, where his drives were slightly off early—only hitting two fairways on the front nine—but improved to five fairways on the back. His irons were sharp with 15 greens in regulation, and his putting was solid with 29 total putts.

He noted that on the 11th, 12th, and 15th holes, even after errant drives or iron shots, his chipping left him short putts of 9, 7, and 6 feet respectively, all converted for par saves that boosted his confidence on the greens. He made one birdie on the front nine and three on the back.

At 23 years old, Tsai is a product of the Taiwan Golf Club development program. Turning pro last year after passing the Taiwan Tour qualification test, he now plays both the Taiwan Tour and Challenge Tour. He currently ranks 26th on the Challenge Tour’s money list.

Tsai Chen-kai carded three birdies and no bogeys, one each on a par-3, par-4, and par-5 hole. His longest birdie putt came from 15 feet on the par-3 3rd. Having adjusted his woods and irons since last week’s CHAU-SHI Series Wealthy Family Open at Ta Kang Shan Golf Club, his ball-striking remained solid, though his putting still needs refinement.

He said he missed several birdie chances today—six opportunities inside 7 feet—due to alignment issues with his putting. He plans to test a different approach tomorrow and make adjustments after the event.

Peng Hung-chin recorded six birdies and three bogeys, including three 12-foot birdie putts. His longest was a 15-footer on the par-3 17th, where his tee shot fortunately rolled onto the green and he converted. He also finished strong with a birdie on the 18th after a chip and putt.

He said he switched to a completely new set of shafts for both woods and irons for this event—his first round with the new setup—and is still adapting to the distance, tempo, and accuracy. He specifically prepared this set for the KBS Championship later this year.

The other three players—Chang Hsun-chen, Chiang Yi-an, and Peng Hsiung—each shot 69 with four birdies and one bogey. Chang played consistently, hitting 15 greens in regulation. Starting from the 1st hole, his putting was poor early—“I missed six birdie chances from 5–9 feet!”—but improved on the back nine, finishing with 30 putts.

He said he had not played on the Challenge Tour for two years while focusing on coaching to support his family. With more stable income now, he returned to competition this year with a more relaxed mindset, which led to better results. He currently ranks 14th on the Challenge Tour’s money list.

Chiang’s driving was decent but his putting lagged behind, though his iron play was sharp, with 16 greens in regulation. He missed several birdie chances inside 10 feet, with his longest conversion a 15-foot birdie on the 17th, totaling 31 putts.

Currently training at Linkou First Golf Club and splitting his time between coaching and competing, Chiang said he’s been refining his swing, which has improved his iron accuracy.

Peng Hsiung, originally from Changhua, made four birdies—three on par-5 holes with chip-and-putt conversions. His overall game was well-balanced. After returning from military service in the U.S., this week marks his second event back, following a tie for 9th at last week’s Wealthy Family Open. Before enlistment, he tied for 25th at the SANYA TPGA Championship in May.

He said he’s regaining his feel for the game and feels more confident, especially with the wider fairways at Hsin Yi Golf Club allowing him to swing freely. He also believes his strategic approach and mental focus have improved, boosting confidence ahead of future events, including the Asian Tour Qualifying School in December.

This tournament marks the eighth consecutive year that Advanced International Group has been the title sponsor of a men’s professional golf event in Taiwan. It is the seventh and third-to-last stop of this year’s ThreeBond Advanced Challenge Tour.

The winner’s prize is NT$250,000 (increased from NT$150,000 thanks to a NT$100,000 bonus contributed for the fourth consecutive year by Chairman Lin Chao-hsien of Peikai Corporation), with NT$75,000 for runner-up and NT$50,000 for third place. The event is non-cut, and after the second round, the top 40 finishers will share the prize purse.

The 36-hole tournament features 90 players, including 80 professionals and 10 amateurs, as they battle for higher positions on the Challenge Tour money list and the year-end bonus pool awarded to the top three.

Advanced International Group co-hosted the ThreeBond Advanced Fusing Challenge in September 2018 with Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., before assuming sole title sponsorship in 2019. This year marks its eighth straight year as title sponsor of the men’s Challenge Tour.

Amateur Awards: The amateur champion will receive five dozen SRIXON Z-STAR XV golf balls sponsored by DUNLOP and an OMNIX golf bag provided by Shang Chung International Co., Ltd. The top three amateurs will each receive a TaylorMade Qi 35 driver sponsored by Advanced International Group.

The course measures 7,510 yards, with thicker rough and faster greens designed to increase the challenge and test players’ accuracy in both ball-striking and putting.

Special Awards during the tournament:

Hole-in-One Prizes:
(1) On holes 3, 6, 13, and 17, Hsin Yi Golf Club offers NT$20,000 and other designated prizes (for professionals, unlimited recipients).
(2) Advanced International Group will award NT$100,000 to the first professional or amateur to make a hole-in-one on any of these four par-3 holes across both rounds (October 8–9). If no hole-in-one occurs, the NT$100,000 will be donated to the TPGA as a golf development fund.
(3) On the 17th hole, Tung Hui Watch Co. sponsors an ORIS wristwatch valued at NT$122,800 for the first professional achieving a hole-in-one during the tournament.

Low Round Award: NT$30,000 per round, provided by Haijie International Co., Ltd. Chairman Wang Fu-chung. In the event of a tie, the prize is shared equally; both professionals and amateurs are eligible.

Closest to the Pin (2nd Shot): Sponsored by Advanced International Group, NT$20,000 will be awarded to the professional whose second shot lands closest to the hole on the 9th during the two rounds.

Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 will be awarded by Hsin Yi Golf Club for breaking the official record of 63 held by amateur Chen Chi-chun.

Advanced International Group also prepared special souvenirs from Taiwan’s century-old pastry brand Chiu Zhen Nan, gifting them to all players and VIP guests to share the warmth and hospitality of southern Taiwan.

ThreeBond, a Japan-based global manufacturer specializing in industrial adhesives, has supported the TPGA for over 30 years, sponsoring both former TPGA chairman and current Challenge Tour Executive Director Chen Chih-chung. This marks the 11th consecutive year of its title sponsorship of the TPGA Challenge Tour, which continues to feature nine events this season.

Lin Jui-chang, Chairman of Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd., continues his annual contribution of NT$2 million in bonuses for the top three players on the season-long money lists of the Taiwan Tour and ThreeBond Advanced Challenge Tour—NT$500,000, NT$300,000, and NT$200,000 respectively.

Spectators are welcome to attend the tournament. Visitors must register at the clubhouse and pay a NT$30 maintenance fee to receive a spectator pass. Walking paths are restricted to cart paths only; riding in golf carts or using shuttle transport between holes is prohibited. For safety reasons, children under six and pets are not permitted on the course.