May 16, 2026 The 2026 Sun Flower & TPGA Championship, offering a total purse of NT$7 million, completed the third round today (May 16) at Taiwan Golf & Country Club. Favorable weather continued with sunshine throughout the day, but the strong and unpredictable winds combined with difficult pin placements created extremely challenging conditions for the field. Only four players managed to post under-par rounds today. “Sun Flower King” Hung Chien-yao carded a 73 to reach a three-round total of 4-under-par 212, maintaining sole possession of the lead by one stroke. He will seek a record seventh title in tomorrow’s final round. Chang Wei-lun fired a 2-under-par 70, the lowest round of the day, for a three-round total of 3-under-par 213. He will tee off in the final group tomorrow as he makes a strong push for the title. Thailand’s Warun Leamgaew putted well and shot a 72 to sit alone in third place at 214, currently the leading international player in the field, two shots behind the leader heading into the final round. Local player Lu Sun-yi posted a 72, while Hsieh Ting-wei shot 73. They are tied for fourth alongside Tsai Kai-jen, who had started the day in second place but struggled to a 77. All three stand at 217, five shots behind the leader. Early this morning, the 17 players who had not completed the second round resumed play at 6:30 a.m. Following the completion of Round 2, the cut was set at 7-over-par 151, the highest cut line in tournament history due to poor weather conditions. A total of 60 players advanced to the final two rounds. Round 3 began at 8:30 a.m. with a two-tee start and concluded at 3:16 p.m. Tomorrow’s final round will also feature a two-tee start. The first group will tee off at 7:00 a.m., while the final group is scheduled to start at 8:35 a.m. The tournament is expected to conclude around 1:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. Seeking his seventh title in tournament history, Hung Chien-yao made three birdies and four bogeys today. He birdied all three par-5 holes on Nos. 6, 7, and 15, but mistakes around the greens and with the putter cost him shots. He failed to get up-and-down on Nos. 9 and 17 and suffered three-putt bogeys on Nos. 11 and 14. After the round, Hung said he was generally satisfied with his overall performance, adding that 29 putts was still acceptable. He also felt his driving accuracy and greens-in-regulation performance were solid enough under the difficult conditions. Hung especially mentioned the strong and shifting winds today, noting that similar conditions are expected tomorrow. He believes some luck will be necessary to win the title because the gusts came in waves throughout the day. He joked that he hopes the wind does not suddenly pick up while he is swinging tomorrow. Second-place Chang Wei-lun, trailing by just one shot, also enjoyed some good fortune today. His putting was sharp on the front nine. On the opening hole, his tee shot missed to the right, but he holed a 20-foot downhill putt to save par. On the second hole, he drained another 15-foot putt for birdie. He also birdied both par-5 sixth and seventh holes with successful up-and-down opportunities, making three birdies on the front nine for a 33. Later, on the 11th hole, Chang hit a straight tee shot but could not locate his ball in the fairway. His two Thai playing partners also helped search for it unsuccessfully. Just as he was about to give up and accept a penalty, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew the small white ball out of a tree in the middle of the fairway. Fortunately, he avoided the penalty. Although he still made bogey on the hole, he considered himself very lucky. He recorded one birdie and two bogeys on the back nine for a 37. Chang needed only 27 putts today, while his iron play was also steady. Facing the same strong winds tomorrow, he believes the key to contending is minimizing mistakes. He hopes to maintain both his current touch and good fortune, aiming to secure pars first before capitalizing on birdie opportunities. Thailand’s Warun Leamgaew made two birdies and two bogeys. He struggled early with consecutive bogeys to make the turn in 38, but played steadily on the back nine. Strong iron shots and putting helped him birdie Nos. 12 and 15 for a 34 on the inward half. He needed only 26 putts today, though his fairways hit and greens in regulation statistics were merely average. He remains firmly in contention entering the final round. Tsai Kai-jen, who had started the day tied for second, also struggled with the strong winds, difficult greens, and tricky pin positions. He required 33 putts and failed to perform consistently with both his driving and iron play. He recorded three bogeys and one double bogey on the front nine for a 41, then added two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for a 36, falling five shots behind the leader. The tournament is being contested over 72 holes through May 17. The field includes 56 international players from eight countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States, and Thailand, alongside 94 Taiwanese professionals, for a total field of 150 players competing for the NT$1.5 million winner’s prize and the championship trophy. This historic championship marks its 59th edition this year and is jointly organized by Sun Flower Cotton Industries Co., Ltd., the Sun Flower Charity & Education Foundation, and The PGA of Taiwan, with co-organization by the 107-year-old Taiwan Golf & Country Club. The Sun Flower TPGA Championship also marks the 11th consecutive year of title sponsorship by Sun Flower Cotton Industries. It is the first major event of the TPGA Taiwan Tour season this year. The champion will receive NT$1.5 million, with NT$700,000 awarded to the runner-up and NT$380,000 to the third-place finisher. Since its inaugural staging in 1966, the TPGA Championship was historically regarded as one of Taiwan’s three major tournaments alongside the Taiwan Mercuries Masters and the Taiwan Open. After the Taiwan Open ceased operation, the event was replaced by the Yeangder TPC Championship, while the TPGA Championship has maintained its tradition and remains one of Taiwan’s three premier tournaments today. This also marks the third edition of the championship since the passing of Sun Flower Cotton Industries founder Chairman Shih Chun-yi following the 2023 Sun Flower TPGA Championship. Over the past three years, his children have continued to honor his wishes by maintaining title sponsorship of this historic international tournament. Sun Flower operates as a diversified group enterprise. In addition to Sun Flower Cotton Industries, its affiliated businesses include Sun Flower Living Center, Sun Flower Senior Center, Sun Flower Gas Station, and Sun Flower Japanese Restaurant, as well as the Sun Flower Foundation, which oversees charitable activities, and the Sun Flower Cotton Industries Cultural Museum, which showcases the history of the sock industry. Guided by the philosophy of “Taking from society and giving back to society,” the Sun Flower Foundation has long been devoted to education, culture, sports, and charitable causes. The TPGA Championship has been held at Taiwan Golf & Country Club 17 times, including the past seven consecutive years. The course measures 6,923 yards and presents a stern challenge with its narrow fairways, thick rough, elevated greens, and demanding grain reading. Special awards for this year’s tournament include: Hole-in-One Awards: Hole No. 10 – In memory of Sun Flower Cotton Industries founder Chairman Shih Chun-yi, Sun Flower Cotton Industries will award NT$200,000 to the first player to make a hole-in-one during the four official rounds. Hole No. 17 – Tung Hui Watch Co. will provide a Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$130,000 to the first player to make a hole-in-one during the four official rounds. Da An Group will also provide a complimentary one-night stay in the Presidential Suite at Lishan Guest House, available for any hole-in-one made during the four official rounds, regardless of hole number, number of winners, or weekday/holiday restrictions. The golf course will additionally provide NT$20,000 prizes for hole-in-ones on the par-3 second, eighth, tenth, and seventeenth holes. Course Record Bonus: The tournament is also providing complimentary sports protection and recovery services during the final two rounds on May 16 and 17. Spectators are welcome to attend the tournament on course. Before entering, spectators must first register at the Tournament Service Desk located at the front entrance of the clubhouse, complete basic information, and obtain a spectator pass, which must be displayed visibly at all times while on the course. Spectators are requested to walk on the cart paths only, avoid entering the fairways, maintain a safe distance from players, and pay attention to personal safety. Mobile phones must be switched to silent or vibration mode, and spectators should remain quiet during players’ shots. Riding in golf carts while moving around the course is prohibited, and no shuttle service is provided between holes. For safety reasons, children under six years old and pets are discouraged from entering the course. The final two rounds on May 16–17 are being broadcast live online. Tomorrow’s final round coverage is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Fans can watch the action live on the TPGA Facebook page and YouTube channel. Tournament news and updates are also available through the TPGA official website, LINE platform Golfourit, LINE Today, and Yahoo Sports.
Hole No. 8 – ThreeBond will award NT$100,000 to the first player to record a hole-in-one during the four official rounds.
A NT$100,000 bonus, sponsored by Taiwan Golf & Country Club Chairman Chen Yen-hao, will be awarded for breaking the course record of 63, currently held by Lin Wen-hung.
