Taiwanese duo Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠) and Yu Pei-Lin (余珮琳) share the lead in the first round of the 2015 KENDA Tires TLPGA Open after each carding a 2-under 70.

Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎), Lee Hsin (李欣), and Thailand’s Thanuttra Boonraksasat sit one stroke back in a tie for third.

Korean Ye-Seul Lee, Thais Janya Morrakotpan, Jaruporn Palakawongnaayutthaya, and Taiwanese Pan Yen-Ling (潘彥伶), Huang Hsien-Wen (黃賢雯), and Lee Tai-Ling (李黛翎) are in a tie for sixth at even-par 72.

TLPGA Tour number 1 on the Money List, Kenda ambassador Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛) ended the day with three shots off the pace following a round of 73. Kuo is seeking her second title of the season after the Taifong Ladies Open.

The TLPGA Tour traveled back to Taiwan this week after staging its last two events in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the torturing heat was carried along. But Yu Pei-Ling, who fired a third career ace in the closing round of the most recent CTBC Shanghai Ladies Classic, found no trouble with the hot conditions and continued her strong form with a tremendous short game today at the Taipei Golf Club.

Yu put together a round of 70 using just 23 putts, after grinding through some challenging chips on the fringe, which she made look easy.

“It was actually some difficult pin positions. Many were placed very close to the near edge,” said Yu. “I’m happy I got to bring a strong short game and made some great chips.” Yu holed out an impressive six times during the round just off of the green, including a birdie chip-in on 3rd from 12 yards to the flag.

Former TLPGA number 1, veteran Lu Ya-Huei grabbed the early share of lead after a steady opener, dropping her only stroke on 5th but making it up with three easy birdies. “My irons were a little shaky in the beginning but got better towards the end. I’m not yet thinking about the final Saturday, just now focusing on keeping up the good game,” said Lu.

Fresh off a runner-up finish last week on the Step Up Tour (second-tier circuit operated by the JLPGA), Tsai Pei-Ying could have had the clubhouse lead but failed to close with a 5-foot par putt at the last.

Tu Chun-Ting (涂郡庭), after a first-round 74, is currently the top amateur, sitting in a tie for nineteenth overall with nine other players.

The NT$4 million tournament will impose a cut line to the leading 50 professionals and those tied after tomorrow’s second round. The winner will receive a check worth NT$800,000, and an additional prize of NT$200,000 from local businesses will be given if a home representative takes the title. The Rolex World Rankings points will also be available in the official TLPGA Tour event.

Hole-in-one prize of a carbon road bike (Masi PC1) will be up for grabs on the 11th and 18th provided by Kenstone Metal.