2025/8/5
The seventh event of the 2025 CHAU-SHI Series, the Qing Lian HDF Open with a total prize purse of NT$3.5 million, will officially tee off tomorrow (August 6) at Wu Fong Golf Course in Changhua. Today, with the rain finally stopping, the second day of the professional-shareholder pro-am event was held. A total of 40 professional players were paired with 120 club shareholders. Under the new scramble format, Senior Tour pro Yang Wen-lai and his three amateur teammates carded a 9-under 63 to win the event. Each amateur received a Honma IHA Professional Series wedge as a prize.
During the pro-am awards ceremony, Wu Fong Golf Course Chairman Tsai Kuo-chou announced bonus prizes for the main tournament: any player finishing with a four-round total of 270 (18-under) or better will receive an additional NT$50,000, and any player finishing 263 (25-under) or better will receive an additional NT$100,000. There is no limit to the number of recipients.
The first round will begin tomorrow with morning and afternoon waves. The morning wave tees off at 6:50 a.m. with the last group at 8:25 a.m.; the afternoon wave starts at 11:20 a.m. with the final group teeing off at 1:05 p.m.
The 72-hole tournament runs through August 9, featuring 126 players from five countries, including 121 professionals and 5 amateurs. The winner will earn NT$650,000, and the runner-up will receive NT$330,000. Last week’s Chasing Dream Open champion Chang Wei-lun is aiming for back-to-back victories and his third title of the season, while Wang Wei-hsuan is also seeking a third title this year and to defend his championship. Wang won last year with a 72-hole total of 269, 19-under-par.
Liu Yong-hua won last year’s 17th Changhua Open held at this course with a total of 273, 15-under-par.
This tournament is title-sponsored by Mr. Wong Chau-shi, Honorary Chairman of the Mercuries Group. The event is organized by the TPGA, with Qing Lian Group & HDF Precision Technology Co., Ltd. serving as the title hosts, and Wu Fong Golf Course acting as co-organizer. This is the second consecutive year that Qing Lian Group and HDF Precision Technology Co., Ltd. have co-hosted the tournament. It is the 10th event on this year’s Taiwan Tour.
The CHAU-SHI Series was initiated by Mr. Wong Chau-shi, one of the founders of Mercuries & Associates and its Honorary Chairman. In 2021, with the Taiwan Tour severely impacted by the pandemic, he personally sponsored six events with NT$2 million each, totaling NT$12 million, helping reestablish the season. This marks the fifth consecutive year he has continued this full-title sponsorship model. Each event in the series carries NT$1.5 million in bonus sponsorship, with this year’s schedule expanding from 8 events to 10, contributing to the Taiwan Tour reaching 20 total events this season.
The CHAU-SHI Series also features a special season-long money leader award. The top earner will receive NT$200,000 sponsored by Chairwoman Lin Kuo-er of HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD., plus an additional NT$50,000 added last week, totaling NT$250,000. The money leader will also earn an exemption into the 2026 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
This week’s field includes 102 Taiwanese players (97 professionals and 5 amateurs) and 24 international players from Australia, Japan, Thailand, and the United States.
The top domestic players are all present, with most of last year’s top 60 money list players competing. In addition to Chang Wei-lun, who is seeking his third win and back-to-back victories, Wang Wei-hsuan—winner of the Nan Pao and Dinyue Opens—is also aiming to defend his title and secure a third win. The two currently rank second and third in the Taiwan Tour money standings.
Eight of the top 10 players on the latest money list are competing, including emerging talents: No. 1 Shen Wei-cheng, No. 4 Hung Chien-yao, No. 5 Su Chin-hung, No. 6 Huang Yi-tseng, No. 8 Hsieh Ting-wei, and No. 10 Lu Sun-yi. Shen, Su, and Huang are each eyeing their second win of the season.
After the first two rounds, the top 50 players (plus ties) will advance to the final two rounds.
The host venue, Wu Fong Golf Course, measures 6,816 yards in total length. To increase competitiveness, the original par-5 6th hole (477 yards) has been converted into a par-4, reducing the front nine from par 36 to par 35. The back nine remains par 37, keeping the total course par at 72.
Players have remarked that Wu Fong Golf Course presents a tough challenge. Despite its shorter length, the fairways are narrow, the rough is difficult to play from, and the grain on the greens is hard to read—making putting a real test. In addition, recent heavy rain has left the fairways wet, requiring players to carefully manage their distances. One small upside is that the softened greens make it easier for the ball to hold.
Special Prizes:
Hole-in-One Prizes: Holes 2, 9, 11, and 16 – NT$10,000 each provided by the course.
Hole 16: A Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$168,000 sponsored by Tung Hui Watch Co., awarded to the first professional to make a hole-in-one during the four official rounds.
Any Hole: A one-night stay in the Presidential Suite at Lishan Guest House, valid on both weekdays and holidays.
Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 for breaking the course record of 64, held by Hsieh Yu-shu, sponsored by Wu Fong Golf Course.
Lowest Round Bonus: NT$10,000 each for the lowest rounds in Rounds 3 and 4, sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep. If tied, the prize will be split evenly.
Sports therapy services will be available during the final two rounds on August 8 and 9.
Spectators are welcome to attend the tournament. They must register at the clubhouse front desk, pay a NT$20 cleaning service fee, and receive a viewing pass. Spectators must walk along cart paths; golf carts are not allowed, and no shuttle service is provided between holes. For safety reasons, children under the age of 6 and pets are not allowed on the course.
The final two rounds will be broadcast as 60-minute highlight programs on August 19 and 20 at 4:00 p.m. The broadcasts will be available on TPGA’s Facebook page, Smart Sports channel, and YouTube. Tournament updates will also be accessible via the TPGA website, LINE’s Golfourit and LINE Today platforms, and Yahoo Sports.
