TAIWAN GLASS TAIFONG OPEN 2026
Second Round
May 8, 2026
During the second round of the 2026 TAIWAN GLASS TAIFONG OPEN held today (8th) at the Taifong Golf Club in Changhua, Thai player Tawit Polthai carded a 6-under-par 66. With a two-round total of 12-under-par 132, he maintained his sole lead.
Matthew Cheung of Hong Kong delivered a 64, finishing with a two-round total of 11-under-par 133 to sit alone in second place, just one stroke behind.
Shotaro Ban of the USA turned in a 67, placing third with a two-round total of 134.
Ian Snyman of South Africa shot a 67 for a total of 135 to take fourth place. Steve Lewton of England carded a 68 for a total of 136, sitting in fifth.
Taiwanese players Wang Wei-hsuan (67) and Liu Yung-hua (69) both finished with a total of 7-under-par 137. They are tied for sixth place alongside Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines (67), marking the best current ranking for Taiwanese players.
Two holes-in-one occurred on the course today. Italian player Gabriele De Barba used a 6-iron to ace the 188-yard 12th hole. Shortly after, Australian player Brett Rankin used an 8-iron to ace the 181-yard 8th hole. This rare occurrence of two holes-in-one in a single round is exceptional in men's Taiwan Tour history. Both players received a NT$10,000 prize provided by Taifong Golf Club. Taiwanese player Lee Chieh-po, sponsored by the Taifong Group, shot a 66 today, while Hung Chien-yao carded a 67. Both sit at 140, tied for 19th with Taiwanese player Hsieh Min-hsuan (69) and eight other international players. Thailand's Tawit displayed consistent skill again today, recording one eagle, five birdies, and one bogey. Starting from the 10th hole in the afternoon, he mentioned that despite an error on the 10th where his second shot flew over the green, he luckily chipped in for birdie. Later, on the par-5 17th, he hit the green with a 7-iron from 21 feet and sank the putt for an eagle, finishing the front nine (holes 10-18) with a 30. On his back nine (holes 1-9), he faced more errors and fewer birdie chances, taking his only bogey on the 1st hole and a birdie on the par-3 3rd, while mostly relying on sharp chipping to save par for a 36. He stated his driving was excellent over the two rounds, making his second shots easier and creating many birdie opportunities. He hopes to maintain this feel during the final rounds. He noted that Taifong has many similarities to courses in his home country of Thailand, such as the greens and grass types, but emphasized the need for patience and care. The 31-year-old was the 2025 Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit winner. This is his first year on the Asian Tour, and he is enjoying the fresh experience and competitive atmosphere of new courses and faces. Hong Kong's Matthew Cheung recorded nine birdies and one bogey, shooting 32 on both nines for the day's lowest score. His driving and iron play were excellent, creating numerous birdie chances. He credited several successful par saves as the key to his performance. Despite missing the cut at the Singapore Open last week, he was overjoyed to welcome the birth of his first daughter this past Sunday upon returning to Hong Kong. While he initially considered staying home to support his wife and daughter, his wife encouraged him to compete in Taiwan, inspiring him to aim for a high finish for them. American player Shotaro Ban recorded seven birdies and one double-bogey. His iron play was smooth, securing five birdies by the 15th hole. However, on the 16th, his drive went into the thick rough and resulted in a lost ball and a double-bogey. He remained unfazed, finishing with consecutive birdies on the final two par-5 holes for a 67. Wang Wei-hsuan carded five birdies and zero bogeys today. With stable driving and good placement, he was more aggressive with his second shots. Coupled with accurate putting, he created many birdie chances. He noted that his best hole was the par-3 15th, where he missed the green on his drive and chipped 30 feet past the hole but sank the long putt for par. After the round, he mentioned that having played on unfamiliar and difficult courses in Korea and Singapore the previous two weeks, he felt much more relaxed returning to Taiwan. Playing on a familiar course has allowed him to enjoy the atmosphere and achieve good results. Liu Yung-hua recorded five birdies and two bogeys. He stated that his front nine was solid with a 33, but on the back nine, he felt he rushed his rhythm too much. His driving accuracy dropped, reducing his birdie opportunities and resulting in a 36. However, on the par-5 17th, his drive went into the trees. Attempting to hit toward the bunker, he hit trees twice. His fourth shot landed in the greenside rough nearly 40 feet away, but he managed to save par with a single putt, calling it his best hole of the day. Taiwan Glass-sponsored player Lee Chieh-po finally performed to his standard. He mentioned that after two weeks of international competition and yesterday's heat, he felt fatigued. Today, he stabilized his rhythm, recording an eagle, five birdies, and one bogey. His highlights included a 225-yard 4-iron to 12 feet for eagle on the 18th and a nearly 40-foot birdie putt from off the green on the 10th. At the end of two rounds, 72 players with a total of 1-under-par 143 or better advanced to the final rounds, including 16 Taiwanese players. The 2026 TAIWAN GLASS TAIFONG OPEN is held from May 7 to 10 at the Taifong Golf Club in Changhua. This is the fourth consecutive year Taifong has title-sponsored an Asian Tour event. The total prize money has increased from US$400,000 to US$500,000 (approx. NT$15.5 million), with the winner receiving US$90,000 (approx. NT$2.79 million). A total of 144 players from 27 countries are participating, a new record for the event.
Taifong Golf Club hosted ADT events for nine years (2014-2022) and was upgraded to an Asian Tour venue in 2023. This year marks the 12th year of collaboration between the Asian Tour and Taifong. This partnership enriches Taiwan's international schedule and provides local players opportunities to compete with world-class talent, playing a key role in nurturing Asian golf prospects.
Chairman Lin Po-shi elevated the Taifong ADT Open to the Asian Tour in 2023 to provide Taiwanese players a high-level platform for experience and world ranking points. He has title-sponsored this event for four years and increased the purse to US$500,000 this year, while signing a new three-year contract with the Asian Tour through 2028. Furthermore, the tournament was moved from year-end to early May for the first time, strengthening the field. It is a highly anticipated event for fans and a crucial ranking battle for international players. The event is title-sponsored by Taiwan Glass Group and Taifong Golf Club, organized by the TPGA and Asian Tour, and guided by the Ministry of Sport. The runner-up will receive US$55,000 and third place US$31,500. 144 international and local stars are competing for the title and top prizes. The course follows Asian Tour standards with a total length of 7,255 yards. The greens and fairways are in top condition, with green speeds reaching 10.2. The long fairways, thick rough, and undulating greens pose a significant challenge for all competitors. Special Awards Hole-in-One: NT$10,000 for holes 2, 8, 12, and 15 provided by the club.
Chairman Lin provides a NT$100,000 prize for the first player to ace the 15th hole.
The first two rounds (May 7-8) will be broadcast as one-hour highlights from 23:00-00:00. The third (May 9) and final (May 10) rounds will be broadcast live starting at 11:30 AM on Sportcast Golf 2.
Admission is free for all four days. Spectators must register at the Siza Pavilion counter for a pass. Public liability insurance is provided. Spectators must use cart paths; riding in golf carts or using shuttle services is prohibited. Children under 6 and pets are discouraged from entering for safety reasons; the committee reserves the right to refuse entry.
