Chu Yuan-Jung (朱苑鎔) and Shih Huei-Ju (石惠如) share the lead halfway through the 36-hole-format Pacific Links International TLPGA Heritage Tour. The pair is at even-par 72. Chou Yi-Ting (周翊庭) of Group Amateur Girls’ 12-16 registered the lowest first-round score of 2-under 70.

On a cloudless Wednesday morning, players teed it up at the Taiwan Golf & Country Club battling scorching heat that preceded the approach of a typhoon.

“I’ve been working on some swing changes, so I was not attacking that much and hopefully just to stay on the right place,” said Chu who made four birdies, two bogeys, and one double-bogey to make it back at even. “It was getting better into the back nine, had some lucky shots. I will try to stay focused on my game tomorrow just like today.”

Her co-leader Shih shot three birdies against also three bogeys and was happy that the rust was off quick. “My last tournament was about one month ago,” said Shih. “So I expected some time for myself to get into the competition but I’m glad that my putter, especially, held up quite nicely.” When asked about what her mindset will be with possible confrontation of the typhoon storms, Shih said, “no fear! I’ve even played through a sinking muddy land.”

Teenage amateur Chou, who plays in the Group Amateur Girls (B), was the only player to break par firing five birdies to go down at 70.

Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏) and Wang Chi (王琪) are tied for third after shooting 1-over 73.

“I definitely left a couple of birdies out there but I did have some really nice saves,” said Chang. “It’s all still within striking distance. I will need to stay calm under the possible bad weather for the final round.”

Wang said her command over the drives left a lot to be desired but fortunately, her short game was zoning well.

Mayko Chwen Wang (王淳) scored the only birdie in the field on no.15 hole. However, a few too many errors, seven bogeys to be precise, dragged her down into a tie for fifth with Huang Pei-Wen (黃佩雯) at 2-over 74. “It’s a positive sign that I was actually putting okay, no three-putt and overall needed just 29. Hope I can continue to improve and be ready for the qualification test in August for the Japan LPGA Tour.”

Huang conjured up four birdies, four bogeys and one double-bogey in her first-round 74. Wu Yi-Ching (伍以晴), whose second shot found the bunker off the final-hole green and resulted in a double-bogey, dropped into equal seventh at 3-over 75 with Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹), Huang Hsien-Wen (黃賢雯), Chen Szu-Han (陳思涵), Tsai Hsin-En (蔡欣恩), and Huang Szu-Hsuan (黃思瑄).

Final round play begins at 6:30 a.m. with the presentation ceremony set to be hosted at 1:30 on Thursday noon.

The pro-junior event was title-sponsored, for the first time, by the Pacific Links International. The company has provided another NT$500,000 cheque for the season-end “Pacific Links International TLPGA Tour Prize Money Winner” prize.

Owning and operating membership programs in cooperation with more than 533 clubs and courses around the world, the Pacific Links International strives to create a collection of the most sought-after golf spots in the world, including a partnership with the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Network of courses operated by the PGA Tour, hoping to deliver the best memorable golf experience for its members.