She fired a low round 68 that include five birdies and just one bogey on the final 18th, following her first-round 76 to finish at 144, edging 2013 TLPGA Tour Money Winner Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠) by one shot and walking home with a prize cheque worth NT$71,000.

 

“I feel very lucky and always extra motivated here,” said Chen of the backdrop of the Chung Cheng Heritage Tour – the Chang Gung Golf Club, where she’s been a victor three times.

 

“I didn’t really do anything different before this week but there is something magical when it comes to playing here,” Chen said. “Hopefully this magical feeling can take me further in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic next week.” The second annual Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic will take place next Thursday where the best TLPGA Tour members will head out to compete with the world’s absolute elites in the LPGA Tour event on American soil.

 

Chen remained bogey-free throughout her first 17 holes but a chip on the 18th fringe going slightly shorter than she expected had her leave an only bogey on the final-round score card. Luckily, it was just enough to beat Lu, who made back-to-back birdies on Hole 16 and 17 but parred the 18th to wrap up with a 69 and one stroke shy at solo second.

 

But the second-place finish is already a nice surprise for the former No.1. “I have a lot of positive takeaways from these 36 holes,” said Lu, who was sidelined for four months due to a hand injury and just came back in her second official event. “I could not swing 100% but I felt like my game was getting back there through each hole. I feel confident.”

 

First-round leader Lin Tzu Chi (林子麒) carded 72 and dropped into a tie for third with Lynn Chiu (邱齡緹) at 146. Lin saw improvement in every aspect today except the putter, while Chiu, on the other hand, took advantage of great putting form, needing just 26 putts that created five birdies to give her a strong finish of 3-under 69.

 

Scoring low rounds on day 1 of 72 and 73 respectively, teenagers Chang Ya-Chun (張雅淳) (72-73) and Lai Yi-Ting (賴怡廷) (73-74) both claimed the victories in their groups -- Group Girl’s 12-16 (Group B) and Group Amateur Women’s 16-25’s (Group A).

 

The Chung Cheng Heritage Tour is a 36-hole pro-junior event presented by Chung Cheng Golf Development Foundation, in which the TLPGA pros are grouped with amateurs and junior golfers, creating an easy interaction for the passing of “heritage” between the experienced and the young prospects. The concept is also one of the main focuses for the TLPGA to nurture future sport leaders.