TAIWAN GLASS TAIFONG OPEN 2026 Third Round May 9, 2026 The third round of the 2026 TAIWAN GLASS TAIFONG OPEN took place today (9th) at the Taifong Golf Club in Changhua. Under pleasant weather, international players showcased their skills in a fierce competition. Lloyd Jefferson Go of the Philippines carded a 67 thanks to his accurate putting, while Ian Snyman of South Africa shot a steady 69. Both players share the lead with a three-round total of 12-under-par 204. Both will chase their first Asian Tour victory tomorrow. With six other players within a four-stroke margin, tomorrow's final is expected to be a tough battle. American player Chase Koepka, younger brother of former world number one Brooks Koepka, also benefited from his putting to card a 66. His total of 205 moved him from 12th place yesterday to sole possession of third, trailing the leaders by just one stroke as he also hunts for his first Asian Tour title. The top-ranked Taiwanese player currently is Liu Yung-hua, who recently signed a sponsorship deal with Taiwan Glass Group. He carded a 70 today for a total of 9-under-par 207. He is tied for fourth place with American Shotaro Ban (73) and Hong Kong's Matthew Cheung (74), trailing the leaders by three strokes. Another Taiwan Glass-sponsored player, Lee Chieh-po, fought hard for a 68, while Thailand's Ekpharit Wu (70) and Mexico's Santiago De La Fuente (67) joined him in a tie for seventh at 208. These six players remain within four strokes of the lead and are in contention for the title in tomorrow's final round. Tawit Polthai of Thailand, who held the sole lead for the first two rounds, encountered trouble on the front nine today, finishing with a 77. His total of 7-under-par 209 dropped him to 10th place. Taiwanese player Chang Wei-lun, also sponsored by Taiwan Glass, carded a 68 to join four international players in a tie for 10th. They will need a very low score tomorrow to challenge for the championship. Lloyd Jefferson Go recorded one eagle, six birdies, and three bogeys today. By the 12th hole, his precise iron play and putting had earned him five birdies and one bogey. However, errors on the 15th and 16th led to consecutive bogeys, temporarily dropping his rank. He bounced back on the final two par-5 holes, finishing birdie-eagle to earn three strokes back and reclaim the lead. Specifically, hitting the green in two on the last hole followed by a 20-foot eagle putt was his most crucial play of the day. He noted that his driving was inconsistent and felt he didn't play particularly well, relying instead on his short game and putting. He expressed surprise at moving into the co-lead, stating it showed how much everyone else was struggling. Having missed the cut in two Asian Tour events this year, he is being caddied throughout this season by his sister, a Filipino professional golfer. South Africa's Ian Snyman recorded four birdies and one bogey. He remarked that the round was difficult yet interesting due to unpredictable wind directions making club selection and power control tricky. While his putting wasn't perfect, he chipped in twice from the edge of the green—on the par-4 4th hole and the par-3 15th from about 14 yards. He mentioned achieving similar chip-in birdies during last week's event in Korea, where he finished tied for third. He missed birdie opportunities on the final two par-5 holes today due to putting errors, but he remains focused on securing his first Asian Tour win tomorrow. Chase Koepka recorded seven birdies and one bogey, with four birdies coming on the back nine. This performance moved him significantly up the leaderboard, sitting just one stroke back. He stated he played well, particularly with his putting, noting back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th, and again on the 16th and 17th. He finished with only 24 putts today. Liu Yung-hua, who officially signed with Taiwan Glass Group this week, carded four birdies and two bogeys. He felt his ball-striking was much better than yesterday, with both drives and approach shots following his intent. He had a solid 27 putts, including 15-foot birdie putts on the 5th and 13th. On the par-3 15th, despite a short drive, he managed an "OK" par save after a 10-yard chip from the front of the green. He faced driving errors on the final two par-5 holes. He missed a 15-foot birdie attempt on the 17th, and on the 18th, his drive went into the adjacent 3rd fairway, leading to a bogey after reaching the green in four. Despite the late error, he remains confident for tomorrow, emphasizing the need to stay on the fairway and execute his game plan bravely. He expressed gratitude for the sponsorship from Taiwan Glass President Lin Po-shi, stating it boosted his confidence and motivated him to achieve a great result this week. Tomorrow's final round will see the first group tee off at 7:50 AM, with the final group at 9:56 AM. The tournament is expected to conclude around 3:00 PM, followed immediately by the trophy ceremony. 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 Po-shi 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.
