2025/7/28

The sixth stop of the CHAU-SHI Series, the Chasing Dream Open with a total purse of NT$3 million, will tee off tomorrow (7/29) at The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club. The tournament will be held from July 29 to August 1, featuring four rounds over 72 holes. A total of 125 players from 7 countries, including 118 professionals and 7 amateurs, will compete. The champion will receive NT$500,000. Wang Wei-hsuan will seek to defend his title and capture his third win of the Taiwan Tour season, while Chang Wei-lun, Shen Wei-cheng, Italy’s Gabriele De Barba, and Huang Yi-tseng will all be aiming for their second win of the season on the tour.

This year’s tournament continues the charity initiative launched last year, led by Chairwoman Lin Kuo-er of Green Forest Development Co., Ltd., and enthusiastically supported by Chairman Liao Nien-chi of The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club, bringing philanthropy into the men’s professional golf tournament. As Chairwoman Lin often says, “Love is contagious, and good deeds spread.” Since last year, the charitable aspect of this men's golf event has continued to grow, and this year, under the spirit of “kindness without pause, charity without end,” the power of love will be further expanded.

The event is personally title-sponsored by Mercuries Group Honorary Chairman Wong Chau-shi. The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club is the event’s title-hosting venue, with Green Forest Development Co., Ltd. as the main sponsor, and the event is organized by The PGA of Taiwan (TPGA), co-organized by The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club.

This is also the fourth consecutive year that The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club has hosted a men’s professional open after a 23-year hiatus (since 1999). After its official opening in 1995, the club hosted the Royal Men’s Open in 1998 and 1999, and subsequently hosted 17 editions of the TLPGA Royal Ladies Open.

The late Chairman Liao Wan-ying of The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club had long been a passionate supporter of both men’s and women’s professional golf in Taiwan. After a 23-year gap, the club resumed its collaboration with TPGA in 2022, continuing its responsibility to promote and develop golf in Taiwan. This marks the fourth consecutive year as the title host of a TPGA event.

Additionally, Chairwoman Lin Kuo-er of Green Forest Development Co., Ltd. is again a major sponsor of this tournament. Not only has Green Forest Development been a key sponsor for four consecutive years, but since last year, the company has also introduced elements from three years of women's charity tournaments into the Chasing Dream Open. Lin Kuo-er stated that this marks the sixth consecutive year of incorporating this charitable platform into a professional golf tournament, encouraging everyone to participate in public service together.

This year, all charity donations from the tournament will be donated to the following six organizations:

1.Catholic Shi Guang Education and Nursing Institute of Hsinchu County Foundation

2.Taiwan Alzheimer’s Disease Association

3.JuJu Mama Children’s Educational Care Association

4.Yu Cheng Social Welfare Foundation

5.Taiwan Xin Fuli Emotional Education Promotion Association

6.Shan Le Family Social Welfare Foundation of Taipei City

Last year, donations were made to four organizations; this year, two more have been added.

The CHAU-SHI Series was initiated by one of the founders of Mercuries & Associates, Honorary Chairman Wong Chau-shi. In 2021, due to the impact of the pandemic, the number of TPGA events and the total prize fund significantly shrank. Wong sponsored six tournaments under his personal title sponsorship, each with NT$2 million in prize money, totaling NT$12 million. This formed the basic structure of the 2021 Taiwan Tour. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the same model continues, with each CHAU-SHI Series event offering NT$1.5 million in sponsorship. This year, the number of events has increased from 8 to 10, with total sponsorship reaching NT$15 million, bringing the 2025 TPGA Tour season to a total of 20 events.

The CHAU-SHI Series also independently offers a special bonus for the season’s Money Leader. The player who tops the CHAU-SHI Series money list will receive an additional NT$200,000 bonus provided by Chairwoman Lin Kuo-er of HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD, and will earn an exemption into next year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

This tournament is the ninth TPGA event of the year and the sixth event of the CHAU-SHI Series. In addition to 102 players from Taiwan, 16 international players from Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and the United States will also compete. Taiwan’s elite players are all in the field. Most of the top 60 players from last year’s TPGA money list are participating, including professional stars such as Wang Wei-hsuan (last year’s CHAU-SHI Series Money Leader), Chang Wei-lun (2nd in CHAU-SHI, 6th on the TPGA money list), Liu Yong-hua (3rd in both CHAU-SHI and TPGA rankings), Chang Shih-chang (TPGA Money Leader in 2022 and 2023), Shen Wei-cheng (currently No. 1 on the TPGA money list and 2025 Sanhwa TPGA Championship winner), and Hung Chien-yao (currently 4th on the TPGA money list).

After two rounds of play, the top 50 players based on total score will advance to the final two rounds. The champion will receive NT$500,000, and the runner-up will receive NT$250,000.

The course layout for this tournament at The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club measures 7,026 yards in total. The greens are known for their undulations, making putting a decisive factor in determining the outcome.

The first and second rounds will feature split tee times in the morning and afternoon from holes 1 and 10. The first morning group will tee off at 6:30 AM, and the first afternoon group will tee off at 11:00 AM.

Special prizes for this tournament include:

Hole-in-One Prizes:

Holes 3, 7, 12, and 17

Each of these four holes will offer a NT$20,000 prize from The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club, along with designated sponsor products provided by the club.

Hole 12 – NT$50,000 cash prize provided by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep.

Hole 17 – One Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$168,000 provided by Tung Hui Watch Co., awarded to the first professional golfer to record a hole-in-one on this hole during the four official rounds.

Lishan Guesthouse Presidential Suite: One night of complimentary stay offered by Da-An Group, valid on both weekdays and holidays. This prize is not limited to a specific hole or number of winners.

Course Record Bonus (current record: 62 by Lu Wei-chih): NT$20,000 provided by The Royal Kuan-Shi Golf Club.

SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep will award NT$10,000 for the lowest score in each of the third and fourth rounds. In case of ties, the prize will be split evenly.

Spectators will be allowed on the course during the first and second rounds only. For access, they must register at the course front desk and pay a NT$30 facility and cleaning fee. They must then proceed to the starting station to receive a spectator badge before entering. All spectators must walk along the cart path; riding golf carts is strictly prohibited, and there will be no shuttle service between holes. For safety reasons, children under 6 years old and pets are not allowed on the course.

The tournament will be broadcast in recorded format. Highlights of the final two rounds will be edited into 60-minute daily highlight shows and aired on August 12 and 13 at 4 PM. This year, the broadcast platforms include TPGA’s official Facebook page, VL Sports channel, and YouTube, where the exciting competition can be viewed. Tournament updates and news will also be available on the TPGA official website, LINE platform “Golfourit,” LINE Today, and Yahoo Sports.