Players tee up the final event of the 2015 TLPGA Tour season, the NT$2.5 million TLPGA Open on Wednesday at the South Course and the West Course of the Tao Yuan Golf & Country Club. Chinese teen star Shi Yuting (石昱婷) sets the early pace with a 3-under-par 69.

Taiwan’s Chen Cih-Hui (陳慈惠), Thailand’s Wannasiri Sirisampant, and Korean Choi Yeon Mi sit one shot off at 68. And just another shot set adrift a group of three tied for fifth; they are Japan LPGA Tour titlist Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), and a Thai duo of Saraporn Chamchoi and Supamas Sangchan.

The 2015 TLPGA Open is the 24th and the last regular Tour event of 2015. As the top 48 players in TLPGA rankings, which include 30 pros, 7 amateurs from Taiwan, 10 players from Thailand, and 1 from Korea, set to vie through the three-round, 54-hole stroke-play year-end tournament for the winner prize of NT$500,000, 60 more players from five countries would join this week as the 2016 TLPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, making the final field 108 players.

China LPGA Tour rookie pro Shi Yuting is among those 60 entries hoping to finish the tournament in the top 20 and win themselves the 2016 TLPGA Tour Card. If Shi would continue with what she had going today, she is hopeful to become the first official TLPGA Tour member from China.

Shi’s excellent short game helped her put together a run of three consecutive birdies on the back nine through 14th to 16th, but what had stood her in great stead were the precise drives. “I didn’t pick up my driver today on a couple of tees up there actually, to ensure I can hit with best control,” said Shi. “This is the first time I play on this course, so I was really careful on the tee shots that I knew I needed good driving on this course to set up my shots.” The Beijing native also had a strong putting display, needing just 28 putts.

“I came here hoping I can gain more experience next year outside the China Tour, and I really like the atmosphere here in the Taiwan tournaments,” said Shi, who finished equal third in her first TLPGA tournament two months ago at the TLPGA Tour and China LPGA Tour co-sanctioned CTBC Ladies Open. In the event, Shi’s second-round 8-under 64 tied the low round in tournament history.

Fifth-year pro Sirisampant just came freshly off a victory in the Philippines a few weeks ago. Her sharp putter earned her a good opening for a first title on the TLPGA Tour this week. She holed out from 24 feet for birdie on the 6th and then had a 10-yard chip-in on the 17th to finally wrap up with five birdies against three bogeys in her first-round 69.

Taiwan’s teenager Chen was another looming at one shot back after shooting four birdies and two bogeys. Chen received the invitation from the TLPGA as an official pro member just last week so she is in the TLPGA Open still with amateur status. However, her impressive touch around the greens today saw her rise on the leaderboard of the grand season-ending event. “I was in a similar position last year here but followed up with a disastrous second-round 80. I hope I can hold the nerves this time.” Chen grew up playing at the Chang Gung Golf Club and is now a college freshman.

Japan LPGA Tour champion Yao shot five birdies but totaled four bogeys to fall back tied for fifth at 71.

Yao won JLPGA’s 2014 Fuji Sankei Ladies Classic last April with a 54-hole total of 9-under-par 207 and finished the year at number 30 on the Tour’s Official Money List. This year, the fourth-year Japan Tour member remains in the top 50 seeds at number 45, which automatically extends her membership throughout the 2016 season. Yao’s joining at the 2015 TLPGA Open back home can bring positive effects on the Women’s World Golf Ranking points given from this event.

Already confirmed of her place on top in the 2015 TLPGA Tour Money List, Taiwan’s Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛) carded a 77 and sit at T50.

The venue this week, the Tao Yuan Golf & Country Club is set at 6,135 yard using the South Course and the West Course. A cut will be made to the low 50 scores and ties after 36 holes.