2025 CHAU-SHI Series – Wealthy Family Open

Round 4

2025/10/3

The ninth stop of the 2025 CHAU-SHI Series – Wealthy Family Open, with a total purse of NT$3.5 million, staged its final round today (3rd) at Ta Kang Shan Golf Club in Kaohsiung. After a fierce battle, Tsai Kai-jen and Tsai Tsung-yu were tied at the end of regulation and went to a sudden-death playoff. On the first extra hole, Tsai Kai-jen made par to defeat Tsai Tsung-yu, who made bogey after incurring a penalty for a tee shot into a water hazard. Tsai Kai-jen captured the title and the NT$1,000,000 winner’s prize.

Tsai Tsung-yu finished runner-up. His prize was originally NT$250,000, but BORN TO WIN Golf Team captain Chairman Hung Tien-ming added a NT$200,000 bonus, bringing his total to NT$450,000.

In addition, Liu Yu-jui and Kao Teng shot 70, Chen Yi-tung 72, and Shapiyate Mako 73. The four finished tied for third at 278 (−10).

In regulation, Tsai Kai-jen relied on deft chipping and putting for a 69, matching the 69 by Tsai Tsung-yu. Both totaled 277 (−11) over four rounds and, per tournament regulations, proceeded to a playoff.

This is Tsai Kai-jen’s third career title on the Taiwan Tour, following two victories in 2023. Having battled injuries, he endured a slump for roughly a year and a half. Today he weathered intense pressure to triumph again. He thanked his family and friends for their support and noted that their backing—and his own perseverance—kept him going; he was moved to tears in the post-round interview.

Chairman Hung also boosted the low-round awards for the final two days. Kao Teng, who won the Round 3 low-score prize with a 66, originally received NT$10,000 from SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep and gained an additional NT$10,000 from Chairman Hung, for NT$20,000 total.

Today’s final-round low-score honors were shared by Yeh Chia-yin and Wang Sheng-hui (both 65). The two were to split the NT$10,000 prize from SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep (NT$5,000 each), but Chairman Hung added to the purse so each received NT$20,000.

Starting the day three shots behind Mako and two behind Chen Yi-tung, Tsai Kai-jen played in the same group as Liu Yu-jui and Tsai Tsung-yu. After nine holes, Tsai Kai-jen carded 37 with two birdies and three bogeys to stand at −7, four behind then-leader Chen and two behind Mako. On the back nine, contenders surged and the lead changed hands repeatedly. After the 17th, Tsai Tsung-yu and Kao Teng were −11, while Tsai Kai-jen, Liu Yu-jui, Chen Yi-tung, and Mako were −10. On the 18th, only Tsai Kai-jen stuck his second to 3 feet and holed the putt for birdie; Tsai Tsung-yu made par to tie him, while the others fell one short and missed the playoff.

In the playoff, Tsai Kai-jen’s drive went left, hit a tree, and kicked to the cart path, finishing in the rough of an adjacent hole. Tsai Tsung-yu also drove left; after a five-minute search the ball was ruled in the water. Following the penalty and drop, his third reached the green 36 feet away; two putts meant bogey. Tsai Kai-jen hit the green with his second from 40 feet, two-putted for par, and won.

On the back nine of regulation, Tsai Kai-jen produced several timely chips and long putts to catch Tsai Tsung-yu. He buried a 37-foot birdie at the 12th, then an 18-footer at the par-3 13th. At the par-5 14th, his tee shot caromed left off a tree and was lost; after the penalty, his third leaked right, and his fourth returned to the fairway. From 25 yards, his fifth miraculously dropped for a par save. On the 18th, from 125 yards, he hit a 54-degree wedge to 3 feet and made birdie to force the playoff—then closed it out.

Turning 27 next month, Tsai won two ThreeBond Challenge Tour titles in 2021, claiming both Rookie of the Year and Challenge Tour Money List Champion. In 2023, he won two Taiwan Tour titles—the Nan Pao Open and YEANGDER Elite Open.

However, from November 2023 he suffered back and ankle injuries. Long flights for Korn Ferry Tour Q-School and swing changes aggravated the issues. He continued to compete while rehabbing, with diminished results. Early this year he adjusted shaft specs, club weight, and swing mechanics; as the injuries improved, his feel returned and he contended several times. Though those attempts fell short, his form kept trending up, and today he seized the opportunity.

He thanked his parents, family, friends, coaching team, and sponsors FENIX and Titleist. He vowed to keep working to deliver his best and chase even better results.

Chairman Hung Tien-ming said this was his first time attending the final round in person. He praised the exciting play and admired the players’ all-out effort in the heat. He expressed hope to continue increasing prize money to further motivate competitors on this stage.

The event’s title sponsor is Chairman Wong Chau-shi, with the BORN TO WIN Golf Team serving as the single-stop presenting sponsor, TPGA as organizer, and Ta Kang Shan Golf Club as co-organizer.

This is the second consecutive year the BORN TO WIN Golf Team has presented a TPGA Taiwan Tour event—since last year, the first time in TPGA history that a single golf team has title-sponsored a professional tournament.

The original purse for this event was NT$3 million. Last year, the BORN TO WIN Golf Team added NT$500,000, raising it to NT$3.5 million and increasing the winner’s share from NT$500,000 to NT$650,000. This year, a further NT$500,000 was added directly to the champion’s prize, bringing it to NT$1,000,000 and intensifying the battle for the title.

Founded just two years ago, the BORN TO WIN Golf Team—set with a NT$1,000,000 membership—was created by Chairman Hung Tien-ming, who has a far-reaching vision for the team. Members from across Taiwan are devoted to public service, having donated ambulances and actively supported charitable initiatives. In 2023, through the introduction of Banji Flower Golf Club GM Cheng Po-yuan, the team learned that professional events in Taiwan can be organized via private sponsorship. Given Chairman Hung’s longstanding commitment to philanthropy, the team began serving as a presenting sponsor last year.

At tomorrow’s Pro-Am, each VIP guest will receive a NT$5,800 gift set. During the banquet, there will be a NT$500,000 “Mai Ta Kang” cash-coupon raffle open to guests and players. Additional player prizes include BORN TO WIN-branded ProV1X balls and rangefinders.

The CHAU-SHI Series was initiated by Wong Chau-shi, one of the founders and Honorary Chairman of Mercuries Group. In 2021, when the Taiwan Tour saw a sharp reduction in events and prize funds due to the pandemic, Chairman Wong personally title-sponsored six tournaments, contributing NT$2 million each (NT$12 million total), laying the foundation for that season. Through this year—the fifth consecutive year—the Series continues under the same model, with NT$1.5 million per event. The schedule has expanded from eight to ten events, totaling NT$15 million in sponsorship and bringing this season’s Taiwan Tour to 19 events.

The Series also features a standalone Order of Merit Champion Bonus—NT$250,000 provided by HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD. Chairwoman Lin Kuo-er, plus an exemption into the 2026 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

The final two rounds (10/2–10/3) will be presented as highlights on 10/14–10/15 at 4:00 p.m. on TPGA Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, the TPGA official website, LINE Today, LINE (Golfourit), and Sports Vision. In addition, Golf Media, Taiwan’s nationwide golf-course digital media network, will simulcast the tournament across 20 courses.