2025/8/14

Co-sanctioned and organized by Thailand’s Trust Golf, the TPGA (Taiwan PGA), and the TLPGA (Taiwan LPGA), the “2025 TRUSTGOLF Asian Mixed” began the first round of its second event today (14th) at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin, Phetchaburi Province, Thailand. Taiwan’s Liu Yong-Hua and Su Chin-Hung, along with TPGA seed player Tawit Polthai of Thailand, each carded a 5-under-par 66 to share the lead with Taiwan’s Wang Li-Ning and Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong.

Taiwan’s Wang Wei-Hsuan, TPGA seed player Shotaro Ban (USA), Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij, and two other Thai players all shot 67, tying for sixth place.

Taiwan’s Ho Yu-Cheng posted a 68, tying for 11th place with Taiwan’s Yu Han-Hsuan and seven other Thai players.

Liu Yong-Hua, who skipped last week’s Qing Lian HDF Open at Chang Hwa Golf Club, returned well-rested. Today, both his irons and putting were sharp, and his tee shots followed his strategy as planned. He scored five birdies without a bogey, birdieing all three par-5 holes. The highlight came at the par-5 2nd hole: after his tee shot, he was 230 yards from the pin; his second shot with a 4-iron was slightly mishit, leaving 50 yards to the green. His third shot left him about 27 feet (9 steps) from the hole, and he holed the putt for birdie. He also made birdies at two par-3 holes, with putts of 18 feet and “OK” range respectively.

At the par-4 6th hole, his tee shot landed in a bunker. It took him three shots to reach the green, but from 15 feet, he holed the putt to save par — one of his standout moments today. He hit 13 greens in regulation and took 27 putts in total.

After the round, he said that the morning weather was pleasant and not humid, though the wind picked up in the last 4–5 holes, requiring careful distance control. Compared to the C and D courses used in the first event, this week’s A and B courses require more precise tee-shot placement, with more bunkers and water hazards. “You can’t just go for distance or miss your target — otherwise, you’ll easily drop shots.”

Su Chin-Hung carded one eagle, six birdies, and three bogeys today. His irons and putting were strong, hitting 13 greens in regulation and taking 28 putts, including two three-putts. Still, he converted the birdie chances he needed to. At the par-4 16th, from 135 yards, he used a 54-degree wedge for his second shot and holed it for an eagle. He said the green there has significant slopes, going uphill then downhill, and from his hitting position, he couldn’t see the hole. “I just aimed right of the flag, and when I got to the green, the ball was gone — it had rolled straight into the hole.” He also birdied all three par-5 holes and chipped in from seven yards at the 9th for another birdie.

He added that his stomach had felt unwell since last night, probably from eating something not clean. This morning, he had little appetite, so his only thought during the round was to finish smoothly — and he was pleasantly surprised with the result.

Playing in the afternoon wave, he noted the wind became stronger and more erratic — gusting on and off — making distance control harder. “The first priority is to hit the fairway; only then can you attack the green.” With many water and bunker hazards, the course is highly challenging.

Thailand’s Tawit Polthai also posted an eagle, four birdies, and two bogeys, with sharp iron play and putting. He birdied four times on the front nine for a 31, and on the back nine made an eagle but also two bogeys. At the par-5 15th, after a drive that left him 160 yards from the pin, he reached the green with his second shot to within six feet and holed the eagle putt. At the par-4 3rd, he pulled his tee shot left, had to punch back to the fairway with his second, and left his third short — 20 yards from the hole — but chipped in to save par.

He made one eagle and two birdies on the three par-5 holes. “It was tough today because the wind in the afternoon was very strong. If you’re not careful, you can miss fairways or hit into hazards. Sometimes even the second-shot distance was hard to judge due to the wind.” His bogeys came at the par-3 14th and par-4 16th holes.

Also tied for the lead, Taiwan’s Wang Li-Ning recorded five birdies without a bogey. She said that the course doesn’t feel long to her, but requires accuracy. “You need to play conservatively — no need to hit too hard. Overall, it went quite smoothly today.”

Wang Wei-Hsuan, also playing in the afternoon, carded five birdies and one bogey. With the stronger winds, he deliberately played his driver and irons for stability. His stats were solid — hitting 10 fairways, 15 greens, and taking 29 putts. He birdied two of the three par-5 holes, and at two par-4 holes, good drives followed by short-game execution set up “OK” range birdies. At the 9th, his second shot went too long over the green; from seven yards away, he used his putter to sink the birdie.

At the par-4 12th (normally a par-5, but shortened for this event), strong winds caused a miscalculation, and his second shot came up short into a bunker. He needed three shots to reach the green and missed a four-foot par putt for his only bogey.

He said that with a morning tee time tomorrow, the wind should be lighter. He plans to keep his driver and irons steady, but attack more aggressively with his second shots to create more birdie opportunities.

Ho Yu-Cheng, who also shot 68, credited his 25 putts for the day. He had five birdies and two bogeys, starting with a run of three consecutive birdies from the 3rd to 5th holes — including an 11-yard chip-in at the 3rd. On the back nine, he made long birdie putts from four yards and 10 yards at the 16th and 17th holes. Unfortunately, at the 8th and 14th holes, wind strength and direction caused distance misjudgments, leading to bogeys. He also birdied just one of the three par-5 holes. “Tomorrow, I’ll focus on capitalizing on par-5 birdie chances.”

This event is the 11th tournament of the 2025 TPGA Tour season, featuring 132 players from nine countries — including 40 TPGA professionals, 40 TLPGA professionals, and 52 players (both professional and amateur) invited or recommended by Trust Golf.

It is the first time the tournament has been co-sanctioned by Thailand’s Trust Golf, the TLPGA, and the TPGA — and also the first time the TPGA and TLPGA have co-sanctioned an overseas event. Each association has sent male and female players to compete in three events; the first event was held from July 24–26.

The “TRUSTGOLF Asian Mixed” series consists of three tournaments, each with a total purse of THB 5 million (approximately NT$4.55 million). They are played over three rounds (54 holes) of stroke play, with men’s and women’s scores combined. The 132 professionals include 40 TPGA male players, 40 TLPGA female players, 40 male professionals invited or recommended by Trust Golf, and 12 amateurs (seven male, five female). After two rounds, the top 60 players advance to the final round. The champion earns THB 750,000 (about NT$682,500), the runner-up THB 500,000 (about NT$455,000), and third place THB 300,000 (about NT$278,000).

The TPGA field includes 40 players from Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and the USA. The TLPGA field includes 40 players from Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia. The Trust Golf invitees include players from Thailand, Scotland, Singapore, Ireland, and the United Kingdom — totaling nine nations represented.

This mixed event is played at Lake View Resort & Golf Club. The first event was held on the C and D courses, while this week’s second event is on the A and B courses. As men and women compete in mixed groups, tee markers differ by about 12% in distance: the men’s professional tees total 6,934 yards (down from 7,081 in the first event), and the women’s professional tees total 6,131 yards (down from 6,204). The course is a par 71. Located in the popular Hua Hin seaside resort area south of Bangkok, Lake View Resort & Golf Club is about a 3.5-hour drive from the capital.