2025 YEANGDER TPC
Round 2
2025/9/19
Taiwan’s first Asian Tour event of the year — the YEANGDER TPC CHAMPIONSHIP with a total prize purse of US$1,000,000 (approximately NT$30 million) — continued today (19th) at Linkou Golf Club with Round 2. Charles Porter (USA) caught fire with the putter, carding a seven-under 65 to reach 12-under 132 and take the outright lead.
Asian Tour Order of Merit No. 2 Kazuki Higa (JPN) and Dominic Foos (GER) both shot 67 to sit T2 at 136.
Seventeen-year-old Taiwanese amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei and Australia’s Travis Smith fired matching 67s. Together with Miguel Tabuena (PHI), who posted 69, and defending champion Suteepat Prateeptienchai (THA), who shot 71, the quartet are T4 at 137.
This is Hsieh’s second made cut in four YEANGDER TPC appearances. In 2022, at age 14, he became the youngest competitor in event history and, at 14 years 33 days, the youngest player ever to make a cut on any international tour (including the PGA Tour and DP World Tour). He is also the highest-placed Taiwanese player after two rounds.
Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) returned a 64 to earn the Mr. Hsu Jin-der Memorial Award and US$1,000 for the day’s low round. He is T12 at 139.
Wang Wei-hsuan shot a one-under 71 and is T15 at 140.
After 36 holes, the cut fell at 146 (+2), with 79 players advancing — including one amateur — to the weekend. A total of 12 Taiwanese players, including one amateur, made the cut, three more than last year.
The 208 cm American Porter posted eight birdies against a single bogey, birdieing all four par-5s. Despite frequently missing fairways into the rough, his approach play repeatedly found greens to create chances. He opened with a birdie at the par-5 1st, then at the par-4 3rd knocked his second from 125 yards to 1 foot for a tap-in — his standout shot of the day. At the closing par-5 18th he reached the green in two and left a 25-foot eagle try just short, tapping in for his final birdie.
He shared that yesterday — Round 1 — coincided with his late father’s birthday, and his mother flew from San Francisco to Taiwan to watch him for the first time. After a poor night’s sleep and skipping breakfast, he didn’t expect much, especially with today’s shifty winds. “I just stayed patient and rolled it well,” said Porter, who needed only 25 putts. The 26-year-old, who lost Korn Ferry Tour status last season, is focusing on the Asian Tour this year. His father once served in Taiwan with the U.S. military, so Taiwan has always felt familiar. This is Porter’s first YEANGDER TPC and his second visit to Taiwan this year (he missed the cut at May’s Ambassador ADT).
Kazuki Higa made seven birdies against two bogeys. “The driver wasn’t ideal and both bogeys came after missed fairways,” he said. “But the putter was very good — 26 putts — and that created a lot of birdies.” With tricky winds and several missed greens, he found the course highly demanding. A Yeangder Group-sponsored player — and Taiwan’s son-in-law — Higa has long targeted this title. Fresh off last week’s tri-sanctioned Shinhan Donghae Open victory, he sits No. 2 on the Asian Tour OOM, was the 2022 JGTO Money King, and also won the ISPS Handa Explosion in the Summer on August 17 — his eighth JGTO victory. “I’ll give everything I have over the weekend,” he added.
Local amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei posted seven birdies and two bogeys. A Linkou-trained player, he said, “The driver wasn’t good — only six fairways — but my recovery with the second shot was solid: 12 greens and 27 putts.” His best moment came at the par-4 2nd: after driving into water, he wedged his third from 62 yards to 18 feet and holed the putt to save par. He noted that despite home-course familiarity, the grain and slopes can be deceptive and wind calls can be wrong at times. Making his first weekend in three years, Hsieh said his distance and overall game have improved and he aims to execute every shot well and battle the leaders.
The YEANGDER TPC, inaugurated in 2010, is Yeangder Group’s 14th hosting in 15 years and the first of three Asian Tour events in Taiwan this year. It is the 13th stop of the 2025 Asian Tour’s 23-event season.
This 72-hole event features 144 players from 25 countries, competing for the trophy and a winner’s check of US$180,000 (approx. NT$5.76 million), with the robust purse designed to elevate the event and boost world ranking points.
Round-3 start: split tees off Holes 1 & 10. First group at 7:20 a.m., last group at 9:30 a.m.; play is expected to finish around 1:30 p.m.
Since 2010, prize money has risen from US$700,000 (2020) to US$750,000 (2023) and US$1,000,000 (2024), maintained this year.
The field comprises players from 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 — 99 international players and 42 from Taiwan (including two amateurs). Thailand leads with 26 entries, followed by the United States with 11.
The championship is co-sanctioned by Yeangder Group, TPGA, and the Asian Tour, with Linkou Golf Club as co-organizer. Play is on the South and West courses, total 7,108 yards. Narrow fairways, exacting approach targets, demanding greenside shots, and precise putting remain the keys to victory.
For over a decade, the tournament has drawn major attention across Asia and internationally, consistently providing Taiwan’s players a global stage. In keeping with international standards, the organizers are providing a complimentary buffet lunch each day for all players and their families or caddies.
For Rounds 3 and 4, All Star Physical Therapy will provide free athlete support and taping services.
Special Prizes
Hole-in-One (Hole 8): NT$100,000 to the first ace during official rounds, sponsored by ThreeBond Hong Kong Ltd. Taiwan Branch.
Hole-in-One (Hole 11): NT$100,000, sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep.
Mr. Hsu Jin-der Memorial Award: US$1,000 to the lowest scorer each round (shared if tied).
Hole-in-One Bonuses: NT$12,000 each on all four par-3 holes, sponsored by Linkou Golf Club.
Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 for breaking the 63 held by Coach Lien Lu-sen, sponsored by Linkou Golf Club.
Spectators are welcome free of charge but must register at the service desk for an entry pass. All spectators must stay on cart paths; golf carts and hole-to-hole shuttles are prohibited. For safety, children under six and pets are not allowed on course.
The final two rounds (Sept. 20–21) will be live-streamed from 11:00 a.m. on the TPGA Facebook page and YouTube. News and replays are also available via Yahoo Sports, the TPGA website, LINE Golfourit, LINE Today, and Videoland Sports Channel. In addition, Golf Media — Taiwan’s only digital golf-course media network — will simulcast across 20 courses nationwide for real-time coverage.
