2025/8/16

Co-sanctioned and organized by Trust Golf, the PGA of Taiwan (TPGA), and the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA), the “2025 TRUSTGOLF Asian Mixed” concluded the final round of its second tournament today (16th) at Lake View Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand. Taiwan Tour seed player Tawit Polthai of Thailand staged a comeback performance, carding seven birdies with no bogeys for a 7-under-par 64, to move ahead from behind. With a three-round total of 18-under-par 195, he secured the championship trophy and the winner’s purse of 750,000 baht (approximately NT$682,500), winning by two strokes. Taiwan’s Wang Wei-hsuan struggled with putting, finishing with a 68, for a three-round total of 16-under-par 197, placing second and taking home 500,000 baht (approximately NT$455,000).

This marks the third career victory for Tawit. His previous win came on January 25 this year at the ADT PKNS Selangor Masters in Malaysia, and it is also his second title on the Taiwan Tour, having captured his first on December 27 last year at the CHAU-SHI Series Peng Wing Open. He said, “This win means even more because it’s in my home country, with many friends and my girlfriend cheering for me. That gave me extra motivation to play better. I’m even happier than my first victory. All the hard work and daily practice have finally paid off.”

Last year’s Taiwan Tour money leader, Thailand’s Sutiphat, surged with the day’s lowest round of 62, finishing solo third at 15-under-par 198. The first tournament champion, Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand, posted a 66 to finish fourth at 199.

Taiwan’s Tsai Kai-jen delivered a superb 63 to finish at 13-under-par 200, tying for fifth place with Thailand’s Dechawat Phetprayoon (69), Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij (67), and female player Cholcheva Wongras (66), who was tied for second after Round 2 but slipped with her third round.

Cholcheva Wongras finished as the top-ranked female player in the event. Taiwan’s Wang Li-ning carded a 67 for a three-round total of 9-under-par 204, tied for 15th, making her the top Taiwanese female finisher.

Amateur male golfer Ramil Saelim shot a 73 today for a three-round total of 2-under-par 211. Among the three amateurs who made the cut, he placed best, finishing tied for 50th in the professional leaderboard.

The day began at 7:00 a.m. with 18 players completing their second rounds. The cut was set at 142 (even par) for two rounds, with 72 players (including three amateurs) advancing to the final round. Those players teed off starting at 9:00 a.m. for the last round. A total of 19 Taiwanese male players made the cut, two more than in the first tournament.

Champion Tawit commented after the round that his victory came from precise iron play and solid putting. He hit 17 greens in regulation and putted well. By the end of the 9th hole, he had already made four birdies to catch up with Wang Wei-hsuan. The two traded leads until the par-3 14th hole, where Tawit sank a nearly 20-foot birdie putt while Wang three-putted for bogey. That swing gave Tawit a two-shot lead at 17-under-par, which proved decisive. He added another birdie at the par-3 17th hole. Though Wang birdied the par-5 15th to close the gap, he couldn’t gain any more strokes over the final three holes, finishing runner-up by two.

Wang Wei-hsuan said afterward that while his driving and irons were solid, his putting was off, taking 35 putts over 18 holes. He missed about 7 to 8 birdie chances from 5 to 15 feet, and even three-putted once. He managed only four birdies against one bogey, including birdies on three par-5 holes. “Tawit played a brilliant round, while I couldn’t maintain my lead and secure the win. It’s a bit disappointing. My approaches landed in tough spots on the greens, and my reads and pace control weren’t sharp.”

Tsai Kai-jen, who fired a 63, was more effective on the greens with only 26 putts, highlighted by an eagle and six birdies without a bogey. He also hit 16 greens in regulation and drove well. “Today the wind was light, so everyone was going on the attack, trying to shoot low. My irons were sharp in the last two rounds, so I pushed aggressively and tried to post my best score. That helped me climb the leaderboard.” Tsai jumped from a tie for 18th after the second round to a tie for fifth.

This tournament was the 11th event of this year’s Taiwan Tour, featuring 132 male and female golfers from nine countries, including 40 TPGA players, 40 TLPGA players, and 52 professional and amateur players recommended and invited by Trust Golf.

This was the first international-level event co-sanctioned by Trust Golf, TLPGA, and TPGA, and also the first time TPGA and TLPGA have jointly sanctioned an overseas event. Both organizations sent male and female players abroad to compete in three tournaments. The first event was held from July 24 to 26, while the third will be played at the same course (AB area) from August 20 to 22.

Each tournament offers a winner’s purse of 750,000 baht (approx. NT$682,500), with 500,000 baht (approx. NT$455,000) for second place, and 300,000 baht (approx. NT$278,000) for third.