The humid Taiwanese summer heat played a large factor in the first round of the Meridigen Technology Cup presented by High Tech Charity and Meridigen Biotech co., as only one player carded at under-par. Taiwan native Chen Szu-Han (陳思涵), with an eagle on the 18th hole, moved herself atop the leaderboard after a 1-under 71 on Friday.

The 2014 Taiwan LPGA Tour this week made its second trip to Hsin Chu at the Hsin Chu Golf & Country Club for the joint Meridigen Technology Cup. Awaiting players is a NT$3 million purse and the winner in the women’s event will walk away with NT$420,000. However, they’ll have to survive a burning heat which is expected to continue at weekends.

Veteran Huang Yueh-Chyn (黃玥珡) could have finished solo second but was hampered by cramp during her final stretch down to the clubhouse. She was suffering so badly on the 15th hole that she finally left with a double-bogey.

“The weather is draining. I felt like I was getting cramp in my legs but they told me if I couldn’t move on in five minutes, I would have to call it day,” said Huang, who made it through eventually with a 2-over 74 that put her in a tie for fourth with Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚).

Another experienced duo of Huang Bie-Shyun (黃璧洵) and the Hsin Chu based Huang Yu-Chen(黃玉珍) both finished at 1-over 73 to sit tied after Chen.

Chen’s solid day at office saw her in command of the driving and the iron game. She missed just three fairways and five greens and the great precision made up for a lack of inspiration with her putter – she needed 31 putts for today’s round.

“I actually felt pretty good. I missed a couple greens and putts at the start but after that I thought I was reading the greens better. It was a good day,” said Chen.

Chen’s eagle on the par-5 18th also won her a bonus cash prize of NT$20,000, along with another ten players, in the men’s event as well, who added an eagle to their first-round scorecards.

Defending champion Shih Huei-Ju (石惠如) shot a 3-over 75 to be in a dual tie with Huang Shu-Huai (黃舒淮). 2012 winner Tiranan Yoopan currently sits in a tie for 11th with a 77.