Hitachi Ladies Classic starting the first round today Jan.6 at Orient Golf & Country Club, total prize money NTD 10million. CHEN I-Wen from Taiwan played 66 6-under-par under great weather condition and accurate irons and putting, acted first place solo. 17-year-old amateur HUNG Jo-Hua shared second by 67 with Hiroko AZUMA and Mami FUKUDA from Japan.

LEE Min had 68 today posed at 5th place, as well as Saranporn LANGKULGASETTRIN, Dussavi SOOPIMJIT both from Thailand, and Ye-Nah HWANG from Korea.

Former World Ranking No.1 Yani TSENG and CHENG Ssu-Chia both played 72, tied 32 with all the other 9 players. Pornanong PHATLUM who is seeking for her 5th title shared 9th place with Babe LIU and Hsuan-Ping CHANG, as well as two other Thai players.

CHEN I-Wen managed her lowest record over 9 years of this event, 7 birdies and 1 bogey, overall 32-34 . She was thankful to the well performance of her irons and putter, birdied four par-5 holes successfully by excellent short games. Most birdies made from 9-foot putts, longest putt for birdie was 21-foot at hole 18. Total 24 putts today, 12 one-putt.

She was quite surprised leading after first round, “I was just trying to do my best, didn’t thing too much and seize every birdie chance. I also want thank my caddie TSAI Wei-Ming with his extraordinary reading of the greens, so that I could putt accurately.” Said CHEN.

CHEN I-Wen won two titles through out 2015 and 2016, respected from 2015 Lunch Club TPC Classic and 2016 Party Golfers Open. Although she did not performed well in last year JLPGA Qschool, she still felt confident by her workout plan other the month, and she was very satisfied her performance today.

17-year-old amateur HUNG Jo-Hua tied for the second while she shot 7 birdies along with 2 bogeys. She also had a great round by accurate irons and putts; it was her best record during professional games. Most birdies were from 6-9 foot, longest were from 18-feet. Even though, she still had two 3-putts ended with 2 bogeys, total 27 putts today.

She said the weather was great and easy to perform well, she made 5th at Yeangder Ladies Open last year that was her best results so far at professional tournaments. This is her 3rd time playing Hitachi Ladies Classic, made cut every time and result 22nd last year.

She would like to thank her coach Yu-Chen HUANG giving her 2 golf lesson every week at Sunrise Golf Course, built confidence to her swing and mental which advanced her stabilities.

Yani Tseng, as first appearance to this tournament, played 72 included 3 birdies and 3 bogeys. “It was a awful day, especially front 9 holes. I should have play 68 under today’s weather condition.” Said Yani while taking interviews after the round.

She indicated there are plenty of problems going on today, for example overthink while playing woods and irons, less corrections on her swing, wrong directions while aiming, poor performance on short games. Not until hole 12th, her caddie finally corrected her aiming direction. But giving wrong decision on wind direction was the crucial factor to her results.

She pointed out after two birdies on hole 1 and 4, the 3-putt bogey on hole 5 has stopped her from making birdie. “I was thinking to much whether tee-off by driver, 3 wood or hybrid, as well as my strategies. I will focus on aiming and my swing tomorrow, ease my tension and hope everything would be better.”

LEE Min had 4 birdies with bogey free, currently at 5th place. She was doing great on putter and only missed 1 fairway with her driver. “It’s been a month without tournaments, and I felt tense while teeing off with shivering hands.” Said LEE. She just won her first title at TLPGA Open in November.

Two Japanese players shared second place, which are Mami FUKUDA and Hiroko AZUMA ranking 45 and 54 respectively at JLPGA OOM. Hiroko was thrilled to teeing off with her idol Yani and defending champion Kanphanitnan. She felt nervous at the start, but her great condition has ease the stress, precisely controlled every shot.

Mami FUKUDA thought her short game was great today, hopefully to continue the great condition tomorrow.

This is the 9th edition of Hitachi Charity Cup, champion will be awarded NTD 2.5 million, 108 players from 7 countries gathered to chase the crown. The cut off line set at top 50 and tie after two rounds competition.

Second round will start from 8:00am separately through 1st and 10th tee, last group at 10:33am.

This year we have more spectators due to Yani Tseng joined the tournament, total 1087 spectators today.

The tournament tickets for 3 days are NTD 250, every 20 tickets could receive 20% off. The coupon could exchange for a gift and lottery for Hitachi air conditioner. (Teenagers under 18 could enter for free along with parents accompany)

The host has provided shuttle bus from Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and National Taiwan Sports University to the course. On Jan.7 and 8 will add shuttle bus from MRT Huilong Station, hope all the spectators could use the transportation wisely.

Channel 38 MUCH TV will broadcast 2 rounds live on Jan.7 and 8, from 1pm to 4pm.

To purchase tickets, please go to http://www.ticket.com.tw/dm.asp?P1=7000000410 and all convenient stores. For group tickets, please approach ERA ticket system or fax. 24 hours fax number (02)2659-1403 or (02)2659-1551

For more tournament information, please go to http://www.taiwan-hitachi.com.tw/ladiesclassic2017/index.html