2025 YEANGDER TPC
Round 3
2025/9/20
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) — played its third round today (20th) at Linkou Golf Club. With the winds easing, contenders went on the attack. Charles Porter (USA) held steady with a two-under 70 to reach 14-under 202, retaining the solo lead by one. Japan’s Kazuki Higa charged with a 67 to sit one stroke back at 203.
Taiwan’s 17-year-old amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei and Australia’s Travis Smith each produced another 67, moving to 12-under 204 and T3, two shots behind.
Thailand’s Chonlatit Chuenboonngam (67) and defending champion Suteepat Prateeptienchai (68) are T5 at 205, three back.
Wang Wei-hsuan (TPE) carded 66, Shotaro Ban (USA) 67, and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin 68; the trio are T7 at 206 (-10), four adrift but still within striking distance for Sunday’s finale.
Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond fired a sparkling 64 with eight birdies and no bogeys to claim the Mr. Hsu Jin-der Memorial Award (US$1,000 low-round bonus). He rose to T20 at 209, vaulting from T54 after Round 2.
In Sunday’s final round, Porter, Higa, and Hsieh will go off in the last group. Will the American first-timer prevail? Will Yeangder-sponsored “Taiwan son-in-law” Higa go back-to-back (this week following last week’s win)? Could amateur Hsieh make history for Taiwan? Might Suteepat rally to defend, or will a dark horse surge? A dramatic finish awaits.
Final-round tee times: split tees off No. 1 & No. 10; first group 7:20 a.m., last group 9:30 a.m. Play is expected to finish around 2:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony.
This is Hsieh’s second made cut in four YEANGDER TPC appearances. In 2022, at 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 currently the top-ranked Taiwanese player this week and aims to become the first Taiwanese amateur to win on the Asian Tour.
Leader Charles Porter struggled off the tee — just four fairways hit — and needed 30 putts. After birdies at the par-5 1st and 4th, he parred the final 14 holes without a bogey. His prodigious length reached the green at the 400-yard par-4 2nd in one, but a three-putt cost him a birdie. Sharp short-iron play repeatedly bailed him out from the rough. “The swing wasn’t stable today, so I focused on patience and saving par. I’m glad I kept it under par,” he said.
Kazuki Higa, paired with the nearly 50 cm taller Porter, showed no intimidation, posting six birdies and one bogey to trim the deficit from four strokes to one. The finish was clutch: 13-foot birdie at the par-3 17th, then an up-and-down birdie at the par-5 18th. He hit only about half the fairways; the lone bogey at 15 came after a missed tee shot and reaching the green in three. “I missed some chances with the putter today, but I’m happy with the score. Tomorrow I need more fairways and more birdies,” said Higa, who is sponsored by Yeangder, is Taiwan’s son-in-law, won last week’s tri-sanctioned Shinhan Donghae Open, holds No. 2 on both the Asian Tour and JGTO money lists, and was the 2022 JGTO Money King.
Amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei delivered one eagle, five birdies, and two bogeys — matching yesterday’s 67. He attributed three consistent days to solid reads on wind, distance, and green speed. As a Linkou-trained player, he admitted to some home advantage. Despite gentler winds, he hit only seven fairways, often scrambling, but recovery shots created chances. Putting cooled (one three-putt and several 3–6 ft misses), totaling 29 putts. Paired with champions Suteepat and Smith, he said early nerves settled as he learned from their steadiness, recovery choices, and precise putting. “If I focus on executing every shot, I’m confident,” he said.
Travis Smith (the 2022 champion) was steady across the bag. Despite finding just nine fairways and frequent tree-trouble recoveries, he converted seven birdies against two bogeys with 28 putts. Two back, he hopes for a more stable driver to chase the win.
Tournament Notes
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 23-event 2025 Asian Tour season.
The 72-hole event features 144 players from 25 countries, chasing 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.
Since 2010, the purse has risen from US$700,000 (2020) to US$750,000 (2023) and US$1,000,000 (2024) — maintained this year.
The championship is co-sanctioned by Yeangder Group, TPGA, and the Asian Tour, with Linkou Golf Club as co-organizer. Competition is on the South & West courses, total 7,108 yards. Narrow fairways, precise approaches, demanding greenside shots, and putting precision remain decisive.
To align with international standards, organizers provide a complimentary buffet lunch each day for all players and their family members or dedicated caddies. All Star Physical Therapy is offering free athlete support for Rounds 3 and 4.
Special Prizes
Hole-in-One (Hole 8): NT$100,000 to the first ace during official rounds (sponsor: ThreeBond Hong Kong Ltd. Taiwan Branch).
Hole-in-One (Hole 11): NT$100,000 (sponsor: SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep).
Mr. Hsu Jin-der Memorial Award: US$1,000 each round to the day’s lowest score (split if tied).
Hole-in-One Bonuses: NT$12,000 each on all four par-3 holes (sponsor: Linkou Golf Club).
Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 for breaking the 63 held by Coach Lien Lu-sen (sponsor: Linkou Golf Club).
Spectators are welcome free of charge but must register at the tournament desk for an entry pass. Please remain on cart paths; golf carts and hole-to-hole shuttles are not provided. For safety, children under 6 and pets are not permitted on course.
The final two rounds (Sept. 20–21) are live-streamed from 11:00 a.m. on the TPGA Facebook page and YouTube. News and replays can be found on 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, simulcasts across 20 courses nationwide.
