2025/9/17

For the second consecutive year, maintaining the highest total prize purse of the Asian Tour season, the YEANGDER TPC CHAMPIONSHIP, with a total prize of US$1,000,000 (approximately NT$30 million), will tee off at Linkou Golf Club from September 18 to 21. This 72-hole, four-round tournament has attracted 144 players from 25 countries competing for the championship trophy and the winner’s prize of US$180,000 (approximately NT$5.76 million). The high prize purse and winner’s prize are aimed at elevating the tournament’s level, attracting more international elites, and boosting world ranking points. The 2024 champion, Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, will seek to defend his title.

Among them, the Asian Tour’s current No. 2 on the Order of Merit, Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who just last week won the Shinhan Donghae Open — a tri-sanctioned event by the Asian Tour, Korean Tour, and Japan Tour — is the highest-ranked player in this week’s field. He was also the 2022 JGTO Money King. Earlier this year on August 17, he claimed the JGTO ISPS Handa Explosion in the Summer title, marking his 8th JGTO career victory.

A strong field of international players will contend for the championship trophy and prize money, ensuring fierce and exciting competition. Longtime title sponsor Yeangder Group also encourages and motivates Taiwanese players to give their all in striving for top finishes, prize money, and valuable world ranking points.

Today (17th), the tournament held its pre-event press conference and an 18-hole Pro-Am at Linkou Golf Club. At the press conference, Brian Hsu, General Manager of Yeangder Recreation, expressed his great anticipation for the week’s event, highlighting that numerous elite players from around the world have gathered, ensuring a spectacular tournament. He also brought two pieces of good news: the first was that today’s Pro-Am included a special hole-in-one prize for amateur guests — the package featured accommodation at a five-star hotel during the 2026 Masters Tournament, a private golf outing, and a final-round Masters ticket; however, no guests scored an ace today. The second announcement was that Yeangder Group will not only continue to host the Ambassador ADT Open next year but will also add another ADT event.

Emmet Hsu, Chairman of Yeangder Group, stated that hosting this tournament each year is one of his happiest times, as he gets to reunite with many longtime friends and welcome new ones, much like a big family gathering. He shared a special story: after the third round of last week’s Shinhan Donghae Open, Kazuki Higa promised to give him a “birthday gift.” The next day, Higa secured the championship, making it a truly memorable birthday present.

Both he and his son, Brian Hsu, are passionate about golf and deeply engaged in related activities. He emphasized that without professional tournaments, the growth of professional golf in Taiwan would not be possible. Additionally, he pointed out the importance of supportive venues, such as Linkou Golf Club, which has been a strong supporter of professional golf events.

Last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, John Catlin of the United States, conducted a clinic this morning prior to the press conference for 10 junior players from 11 golf clubs under the TPGA Junior Cup program. Catlin demonstrated various shot types, swing details, and also shared mindset advice on facing challenges, enjoying the game of golf, and the sense of achievement through self-improvement, which greatly benefited the young players.

Following the press conference, the tournament held its traditional Long Drive Contest with 10 professional players, including defending champion Wang Wei-hsuan. Each participant hit three balls, with only fairway landings counting. Wen Cheng-hsiang won with a 339-yard drive, while Wang Wei-hsuan, despite failing to defend his title, finished runner-up with 335 yards, and New Zealand’s Denzel Leremia placed third with 330 yards. The three players received prize money of NT$30,000, NT$20,000, and NT$10,000 respectively, sponsored by Chensinn Industrial Chairman Chen Chung-hsin.

Today also featured 30 professional players paired with 90 amateur guests under a new scramble format. The team led by Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond posted a 12-under 60 to win, with each amateur guest receiving a Ping Anser 2 putter.

Tomorrow’s opening round will see players split into morning and afternoon waves. The morning session begins at 6:30 a.m. with the last group off at 8:20 a.m.; the afternoon session starts at 11:10 a.m., with the final group teeing off at 1:00 p.m.

Since its inception in 2010, Yeangder Group has hosted this event 15 years across 14 editions. While canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic and limited to Taiwanese players in 2021, the championship returned as an Asian Tour event in 2022 and continues this year, with prize money steadily increasing: from US$700,000 in 2020, to US$750,000 in 2023, and to a record-high US$1 million in 2024, which remains the same this year.

The winner’s prize has also grown from US$126,000 (approx. NT$3.78 million) in 2020, to US$135,000 in 2023, and to US$180,000 last year, which is maintained this year.

This year’s field of 144 features players from 25 nations, including Argentina, Australia, England, Spain, France, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, the United States, and Chinese Taipei. Among them are 99 foreign players and 42 from Taiwan (including two amateurs). Thailand leads with 26 entries, followed by the United States with 11.

The YEANGDER TPC is co-sanctioned by the Yeangder Group, TPGA, and the Asian Tour, with Linkou Golf Club as the co-organizer. The event uses the South and West courses, with a total yardage of 7,108 yards. This marks Yeangder Group’s 14th hosting of this international event in 15 years, and it is the first of three Asian Tour events held in Taiwan this year.

Since its inception in 2010, the YEANGDER TPC began with a total prize purse of US$300,000. From 2013 to 2019, it was increased and maintained at US$500,000, before rising to US$700,000 in 2022, US$1 million in 2024, and remains at that level this year.

Over the past decade, this tournament has continuously drawn significant attention from both Asian and international golf, consistently providing Taiwanese players opportunities to compete on the global stage. Yeangder Group’s commitment to hosting international events has been instrumental in developing professional golf in Taiwan.

This year’s Asian Tour season features 23 events, with the YEANGDER TPC serving as the 13th stop.

The high prize purse has attracted many top Asian Tour players, with 8 of the top 18 on the current Order of Merit in the field, including No. 2 Kazuki Higa, No. 6 Tachi Kho of Hong Kong, No. 7 Donthai Boonma of Thailand, No. 9 Ryan Peake of Australia, No. 11 Kevin Yuan of Australia, and Nos. 15–17 Thai players Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Poom Saksansin (the 2023 champion), and Jazz Janewattananond.

However, Taiwanese players have not lifted the trophy in 11 years. Since Lu Wei-chih’s victory in 2011, only international players have claimed the title. In 2021, due to the pandemic, the field was limited to Taiwanese players, with Lee Chieh-po taking the title. From 2022 to 2024, foreign players have claimed the championship. Lee Chieh-po finished runner-up in 2022, narrowly missing by two shots.

Lee Chieh-po, now competing on the LIV Golf League, became the first Chinese golfer to join LIV. With months of high-intensity competition under his belt, he returns to Taiwan this week to seek his first Asian Tour victory. His LIV season has concluded, finishing 47th on the money list.

Chan Shih-chang currently ranks 63rd on the Asian Tour money list, Chang Wei-lun sits at 95th, and Wang Wei-hsuan at 97th. Meanwhile, Lu Wei-chih, Hung Chien-yao, and Liu Yong-hua are all ranked outside the top 150. On the domestic TPGA money list, Shen Wei-cheng and Wang Wei-hsuan currently hold the top two spots. All will give their utmost effort this week for the best possible finish.

Additionally, 24 TPGA players participated in Monday’s qualifier, with the top 11 earning spots in this week’s YEANGDER TPC.

This week’s contest among international elites promises to showcase spectacular golf.

The Linkou course measures 7,108 yards, with narrow fairways, demanding approach accuracy, and challenging short-game shots around the greens. Putting precision will be key to victory.

Special prizes for this year include:

Hole-in-One Prize (Pro-Am only, September 17): At Hole 5, sponsored by golftraveller, offering accommodation at a five-star hotel during the 2026 Masters, a private golf outing, and a final-round Masters ticket to the first amateur guest making an ace on that hole.

Hole-in-One Prize (Official rounds): At Hole 8, sponsored by ThreeBond Hong Kong Ltd. Taiwan Branch, NT$100,000 to the first player making an ace.

Hole-in-One Prize: At Hole 11, sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep, NT$100,000.

Mr. Hsu Jin-der Memorial Award: US$1,000 to each round’s lowest scorer (to be split in case of ties).

Hole-in-One Prizes: NT$12,000 each for the four par-3 holes, sponsored by Linkou Golf Club.

Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 for breaking the course record (63, held by Coach Lien Lu-sen), sponsored by Linkou Golf Club.

As per tradition, a Long Drive Contest was held during the Pro-Am, with the top three awarded NT$30,000, NT$20,000, and NT$10,000 respectively.

Spectators are welcome to attend, but must register at the tournament service desk to receive a pass. Admission is free. Spectators must walk on cart paths, golf carts and shuttle service between holes are prohibited. For safety reasons, children under 6 and pets are not allowed on the course.

The final two rounds (September 20–21) will be streamed live online starting at 11:00 a.m. Platforms include the TPGA Facebook page, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, TPGA official website, LINE Golfourit, LINE Today, and Videoland Sports Channel. Additionally, Golf Media — Taiwan’s only digital golf course media network — will simulcast at 20 golf courses nationwide, showcasing the exciting competition in real time.