2025 CHAU-SHI Series - GIANT Open
Round 3
2025/9/12
The eighth stop of the 2025 CHAU-SHI Series, the GIANT Open, with a total purse of NT$3,000,000, continued today (September 12) at Donghua Elite Golf Club with the completion of the third round. Taiwanese professional Shapiyate Mako carded a 5-under-par 67, while Lu Wei-chih shot a 68. Both players share the lead with a three-round total of 201, 15-under-par.
Hung Chien-yao posted the day’s lowest round with a 66, earning the NT$10,000 third-round low-score bonus sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep, and sits three shots back at 204, in solo third. The three players will form tomorrow’s final group, setting the stage for an intense showdown, with the champion earning NT$500,000.
Shen Wei-cheng fired a 67 and Japan’s Shori Ishizuka a 69, leaving them tied at 205, 11-under-par, in fourth place and still within striking distance. Yeh Yu-chen, Lin Kuan-po, and Japan’s Yasuo Sawasaki shot 67, 67, and 68 respectively, putting them at 206, 10-under-par, tied for sixth place, five shots off the lead and needing a low score tomorrow to contend.
Tomorrow’s final round will again feature simultaneous tee-offs from holes 1 and 10, with the first group starting at 6:30 a.m. and the final group at 7:55 a.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Known for his long driving ability, Shapiyate Mako once again played conservatively, relying mainly on his 2-iron off the tee, using his driver only three times. He hit 11 fairways, 14 greens in regulation, and needed 28 putts. He admitted that his iron accuracy was not as sharp as yesterday, leaving several birdie putts from 15-18 feet short of the hole. Nonetheless, he managed five birdies with no bogeys, including three on par-5 holes: the par-5 1st with two shots onto the green and a two-putt birdie, and the par-5 8th and 12th with 6-foot birdie putts after a chip and putt. He added birdies on the par-4 5th and 15th holes with 9-foot conversions. Mako stated he plans to continue the same strategy tomorrow in the final round.
Co-leader Lu Wei-chih carded an eagle, three birdies, and one bogey. He noted that his iron play was less precise than yesterday, leaving him farther from the pins. He required 29 putts, three more than yesterday, but his driving accuracy improved, hitting 13 fairways and missing only one hole. His highlight was an eagle on the par-5 8th hole, where he struck a 231-yard 5-wood onto the green and holed a 21-foot putt. He also birdied the par-5 1st and 12th with putts from 15 and 18 feet. However, Lu admitted that his mindset wasn’t ideal, as he tried too hard to push for results. Combined with windy, hot conditions, his energy waned over the final three holes, leaving him at only “70% power” and limiting him to just one birdie on the back nine. Nevertheless, he vowed to attack aggressively in tomorrow’s finale: “I’ll go all out. No conservative play.”
Hung Chien-yao, who posted eight birdies against two bogeys, earned the third-round low-score award. He credited his improved putting for the success, citing better communication and execution with his caddie, needing just 28 putts. With 15 greens in regulation, Hung created numerous birdie opportunities, most from around 15 feet. He collected four birdies on each nine, though he stumbled with a three-putt and a bunker miss that led to two bogeys. His longest birdie putt was an 18-footer on the par-4 6th. Hung expressed confidence heading into the final round, saying that consistent confidence in reading lines and execution on the greens would be the key to winning.
Shen Wei-cheng carded eight birdies and three bogeys. He relied heavily on 15-foot birdie putts, with his longest at 21 feet on the par-4 6th. He needed just 28 putts and hit 14 greens in regulation. Shen shot 33 on the front nine with four birdies and one bogey, but slipped on the back nine after issues with his golf shoes. His soft spikes were too short, causing him to slip during swings, which impacted accuracy and power. Between holes 10-13, he mixed one birdie with one bogey. After requesting a shoe change at the 13th, he steadied his game and added two more birdies, finishing with a 34 on the back. Shen said aside from the shoe issue, his feel across the bag was good and hopes to maintain that form tomorrow.
The tournament continues through September 13 with four rounds and 72 holes. A total of 117 players from five countries, including 113 professionals and four amateurs, are competing for the NT$500,000 champion’s prize. This marks the second consecutive year that Jia-Yun Heavy Machinery Engineering Co. has served as the title sponsor for this TPGA-sanctioned event.
This tournament is fully title-sponsored by Wong Chau-shi, Honorary Chairman of the Mercuries Group, with Jia-Yun Heavy Machinery Engineering Co. as the event-level title sponsor, the PGA of Taiwan (TPGA) as the organizer, and Donghua Elite Golf Club as the co-organizer.
The CHAU-SHI Series has established a special award for the season’s money leader. The player who earns the top spot will receive an additional NT$250,000, courtesy of Lin Kuo-er, Chairman of HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD, and will also earn an automatic exemption into the 2026 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
Founded in 2013, Jia-Yun Heavy Machinery Engineering Co. has grown into a professional team of around 160 employees under the leadership of Chairman Chang Lin-kuei, with an average team age under 35, embodying youth, professionalism, and energy. The company specializes in the transportation and hoisting of oversized and heavy equipment, offering customized solutions that balance safety, cost-efficiency, and performance. Their work spans Taiwan’s major science parks and extends into petrochemical, tech, energy, wind power, and offshore wind projects, playing a key role in supporting Taiwan’s industrial and green energy sectors.
In recent years, Jia-Yun has also been committed to corporate social responsibility, organizing coastal cleanup activities, providing childcare services, and sponsoring elementary school badminton teams, furthering both environmental protection and community development.
The CHAU-SHI Series was initiated by Wong Chau-shi, one of the founders and Honorary Chairman of the Mercuries Group. In 2021, when the Taiwan Tour faced event reductions and prize fund cuts due to the pandemic, Wong personally funded six events, contributing NT$2 million per event, totaling NT$12 million, effectively rebuilding the tour’s competitive foundation. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the CHAU-SHI Series continues under Wong’s title sponsorship, offering NT$1.5 million per event. The schedule has expanded from eight events last year to ten this season, with a total contribution of NT$15 million, bringing the overall Taiwan Tour calendar to 20 tournaments.
Special Awards
Hole-in-One Awards:
NT$20,000 each on holes 3, 6, 13, and 16, sponsored by Donghua Elite Golf Club.
An additional NT$100,000 is sponsored by Hu Han-yen, Chairman of Qide Machinery Hoisting Engineering Co., Ltd., for the first hole-in-one on the par-3 13th during the four competition rounds. Open to both professionals and amateurs.
For the par-3 16th, Tung Hui Watch Co. offers an Oris luxury watch valued at NT$122,800 for the first hole-in-one, limited to professional players.
Accommodation Prize:
Da An Group provides one complimentary night at the Presidential Suite of the Lishan Guest House. No restrictions on hole number, player, or weekday/weekend usage.
Course Record Bonus:
NT$100,000 is awarded by Donghua Elite Golf Club for breaking the existing course record of 62, held by Chang Tse-peng.
Lowest Round Bonuses:
SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep sponsors NT$10,000 for the lowest rounds in the third and fourth rounds. In case of ties, the prize is split equally.
Spectators are welcome to attend the event free of charge by registering at the tournament service desk and receiving an access pass. Spectators must remain on cart paths at all times; golf carts and shuttle services between holes are not provided. For safety, children under six and pets are not allowed on the course.
The final two rounds will be featured in 60-minute highlight programs, scheduled to air on September 23 and 24 at 4:00 p.m. The coverage will be available on the TPGA Facebook page, ELTA Sports, and YouTube. Tournament updates and news can also be followed via the TPGA official website, LINE Golfourit, LINE Today, and Yahoo Sports.
