Tian Zheng Chang Wah TPGA Pro-Am Legacy Tournament
Round 2
2025/12/18
With a total prize purse of NT$3 million, the Tian Zheng Chang Wah TPGA Pro-Am Legacy Tournament, the season-ending event of this year’s Taiwan Tour, played its second round today (18th) at Hsin Yi Golf Club in Kaohsiung. Thai player Tawit Polthai carded a five-under-par 67, reaching a two-round total of 13-under-par 131 to take the outright lead. Chang-Chien Ko-yen fired a 63 and sits one stroke back at 132.
Taiwanese player Su Chin-hung posted a 70 and stands alone in third at 11-under-par 133, two shots behind the leader.
U.S.-based Taiwanese player Lin Chuan-tai surged with a ten-under-par 62, recording one eagle, eight birdies, and no bogeys. His two-round total of ten-under-par 134 vaulted him from a share of 23rd after the first round to outright fourth, three strokes back. This round tied his career-low single-round score and his personal best nine-hole score of 29, both previously set during a PGA Tour Americas event in July this year. He also claimed the single-round low score award sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep, earning a NT$10,000 bonus.
Ruan Yi-chi shot a 73 for a two-round total of 139, currently tied for 12th, and remains the leading amateur in the field.
The outright leader Tawit Polthai recorded seven birdies and two bogeys today. Starting from the second hole, his iron play was not ideal over the opening eight holes, where he made three birdies and two bogeys. On the back nine, he improved his greens-in-regulation performance and created more birdie chances by hitting approaches closer to the hole, adding four birdies with no bogeys. He made three consecutive birdies from holes 13 through 15, highlighted by a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th. His other birdies came mostly from around 15 feet. His driving was acceptable, and putting was the strongest part of his game, while his iron play left room for improvement.
This season, he captured the ADT money title for the first time, earning a full Asian Tour card for next year. During the 2025 ADT season, he claimed victory at the PKNS Selangor Masters on January 22 and recorded six top-10 finishes.
He said that he would not place too much emphasis on the championship title or prize money in tomorrow’s final round, noting, “I just want to enjoy the competition. After finishing tomorrow’s final round, my entire season will be over, and I can finally take a break.”
Lin Chuan-tai, sporting a short military-style haircut, rebounded strongly after struggling with his rhythm in the first round. Although he hit only six fairways, his iron play was precise, with 15 greens in regulation, and he needed just 25 putts to produce one eagle, eight birdies, and no bogeys.
Starting from the 10th hole, he opened with birdies via 10-foot and 4-foot putts, gaining immediate confidence. From holes 15 through 18, he carded three birdies and one eagle. On the par-4 16th, he took an aggressive line off the tee, placing his drive in the fairway about 70 yards from the pin, then holed a 62-degree wedge shot for eagle. His 18-foot birdie putt at the 17th further boosted his momentum, and he turned in 29 on the front nine with one eagle and five birdies.
He returned to Taiwan in October for military service. Although it is a 12-day national service program, he must remain in Taiwan until after February next year before returning to the United States for the next season. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2024, he turned professional and has competed for two seasons on PGA Tour Americas. His year-end money rankings of 44th and 76th allowed him to retain playing status both seasons. His goal next year is to finish inside the top 10 on the PGA Tour Americas money list to earn eligibility for the Korn Ferry Tour.
Chang-Chien Ko-yen also recorded one eagle and eight birdies, but a single bogey prevented an even lower score. Nevertheless, he set new personal bests for a single round and for nine holes.
He said that after finishing a tournament in China last week, his form was not ideal, so his focus this week was simply on steady ball-striking. His putting was especially strong today, totaling 25 putts. Starting from the 16th hole, he made his first birdie at the par-5 18th via a chip-and-putt. After the turn, he produced one eagle and five birdies from holes 1 through 9 for a 29. On the par-5 4th, his second shot finished seven meters from the hole at the edge of the green, and he holed the putt for eagle. He also made long birdie putts of 50 feet on the par-3 6th, as well as from 18 feet at the 2nd, 21 feet at the 7th, and 30 feet at the 9th. His only bogey came at the par-5 15th after missing a 7-foot par putt.
He noted that ongoing swing adjustments have led to fluctuating performance. Although only one stroke off the lead, his strategy for tomorrow is to stay patient, focus on hitting fairways and greens first, then look for birdie opportunities, hoping his putting remains sharp.
Su Chin-hung, two shots back, struggled on the greens with 32 putts, and his driving was inconsistent. After making two birdies and two bogeys, he finally found the fairway at the 18th. From 210 yards, he hit a 5-iron to three feet and holed the putt for eagle.
He said he will not think about winning in the final round, noting that his swing has felt out of rhythm since late October and that he simply wants to finish smoothly. This year, he finished 16th on the ADT money list with a best result of runner-up and currently ranks 13th on the Taiwan Tour money list.
In addition, the tournament staged the second “Chase Your Dream” legacy instruction session this afternoon. After the completion of Round 2, Taiwanese star Lee Chieh-po, the first Taiwan Tour player to compete on the LIV Golf League, shared insights from his learning and competitive experiences, along with technical analysis of long-iron, short-iron, and wood shots. More than 40 professional and amateur players attended the session. The theme was The Perfect Balance of Distance and Accuracy — Shot Analysis.
Lee Chieh-po shared his personal journey in golf, noting that his development was not always smooth. During difficult periods when he considered giving up, timely encouragement from mentors helped him persevere, break through slumps, and continue improving. He also discussed his progression from the Taiwan Tour to the Asian Tour and eventually to a full card on the LIV Golf League, emphasizing rapid adaptation to different countries and courses, continuous self-reflection, and detailed post-round analysis. He noted that during tournament weeks, technical changes are limited, with adjustments focused mainly on strategy and execution. The one-and-a-half-hour session concluded with interactive demonstrations and practice on iron and wood ball flights with junior amateur players.
The tournament is contested over three rounds and 54 holes, featuring 72 professional and amateur players from three countries, with the champion set to earn NT$600,000. The event is organized by Tian Zheng International Precision Machinery Co., Ltd., Chang Wah Group, and The PGA of Taiwan (TPGA), with Hsin Yi Golf Club serving as co-organizer.
This is the first time Tian Zheng International Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. has jointly title-sponsored a Taiwan Tour event, while Chang Wah Group is co-title-sponsoring a Taiwan Tour tournament for the first time after four consecutive years as sole title sponsor of the season-opening event.
This tournament marks the final event among the 20 tournaments on this year’s Taiwan Tour. The Taiwan Tour money leader title has already been secured by Wang Wei-hsuan. Currently, Hung Chien-yao ranks second, Shen Wei-cheng third, and Thailand’s Suteepat fourth, with all three competing in this event.
The top three players on the Taiwan Tour money list will receive additional bonus awards sponsored by Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Chairman Lin Jui-chang, with NT$500,000 awarded to first place, NT$300,000 to second, and NT$200,000 to third.
The tournament is played as a three-round stroke-play event with no cut, with prize money awarded to the top 40 finishers. The champion will receive NT$600,000, second place NT$330,000, and third place NT$210,000.
Tomorrow’s final round will again use a shotgun start, with all 72 players divided into 24 groups of three, teeing off simultaneously from all 18 holes starting at 6:40 a.m. The round is expected to conclude before noon, followed immediately by the prize-giving ceremony.
Hsin Yi Golf Club features a total course length of 7,459 yards, favoring long hitters, though accuracy off the tee remains essential. Reading the greens and short-game execution around the putting surfaces also present significant challenges. In preparation for this season-ending Taiwan Tour event, the course has been meticulously conditioned to optimal standards to allow players to perform at their best.
Hole-in-One Awards:
TEE 3, TEE 6, TEE 13, and TEE 17 — NT$20,000 cash prize provided by the golf club.
At TEE 17, Tung Hui Watch Co. will provide one ORIS wristwatch valued at NT$122,800, awarded to the first professional player to make a hole-in-one during official competition.
An additional hole-in-one award, applicable on any tee, will be provided by Da An Group, offering one complimentary night in the Presidential Suite at Lishan Guest House, valid on both weekdays and holidays.
Lowest Score Award (Rounds 2 & 3):
Sponsored by SOCH Furniture | Diandiansleep, the lowest round score on December 18 and 19 will earn NT$10,000. In the event of a tie, the prize money will be split evenly.
Course Record Award:
NT$20,000 for breaking the course record of 63 held by amateur Chen Chi-chun (provided by the golf club). No prize will be awarded if preferred lies are in effect.
Bolwell Group and Chengguanyuan Golf Driving Range will provide complimentary unlimited practice access to all tournament participants during the event.
Free sports injury prevention services will be provided during Rounds 2 and 3 (December 18 and 19).
Spectators are permitted on the course during the tournament. Visitors should proceed to the starting area to pay a NT$30 facility cleaning fee, complete registration, and receive a spectator pass. All spectators must remain on cart paths. For safety reasons, children under six years old and pets are advised not to enter the course.
This tournament will be broadcast on a delayed basis, with the final two rounds edited into a 60-minute highlights program scheduled to air at 4:00 p.m. on January 1 and January 2, 2026. Coverage will be available on the TPGA Facebook page, Zhi-Lin Sports Channel, and YouTube, with ongoing updates provided via the TPGA official website, LINE platform “Golfourit,” LINE Today, and Yahoo Sports.
