Turning in a bogey-free first-round scorecard with seven birdies, Thailand’s Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng took the overnight lead at the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club at the tenth pit stop of the ICTSI Champion Tour.

A dynamic “sister act” by Taiwanese Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) and Yu-Sang (侯羽桑) saw the pair occupy the second and third place in round one with 5-under-par 67 and 3-under 69 respectively. Tied for third was Thai Chatprapa Siriprakob.

A crowded six-way tie loomed, which included Taiwanese Lee Chia-Pei (李佳霈), Lee Hsin (李欣), Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan, Aunchisa Utama, Singapore’s Amelia Yong, and home favorite Princess Mary Superal, who all sit in a share of the fifth place.

Due to constant drizzles caused by the tail of a typhoon, the first round was played with preferred lies. And players were actually delighted with the soft and damped course, saying “it helped to stop the ball on the greens and set up chances.”

Clubhouse leader Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng took advantage of the nice scoring conditions, hitting 11 fairways, 15 greens, and needing only 26 putts. A steady 7-under-par 32-33 performance puts her in a great position to lift her second TLPGA Tour title after winning the Taiwan Mobile Ladies Open last July.

Fresh off a victory at the TLPGA Ladies Open – Nan Pao two months ago, which made Hou Yu-Chiang the first Taiwanese to win a pro tournament as an amateur after Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉) at the Xiamen Challenge 2014 on the China LPGA Tour, the 17-year-old also used a blemish-free scorecard to open her campaign for a second title in a row.

Hou’s precise iron play gave her plenty of attacking opportunities, and she converted five of them, all within six feet. The highlight of the day saw Hou hit the pin on the par-5 eighth green from 66 yards, and it sit just one foot for an easy tap-in birdie. "I felt very solid from tee to green," said Hou, who hit 16 greens. "And now as I’ve played a full 2017 schedule, I feel I’m not as nervous when I go out in these big events. I feel more in control and I get to play my game more confidently and that’s the key in golf."

After the Nan Pao victory, Hou Yu-Chiang, with her elder sister Yu-Sang and their Chinese Taipei teammates, moved to Indonesia for an off-site training session in preparation for the Jakarta Asian Games, which begins on August 12. Now back at the team’s camp at Yunghan Golf Club, the sisters said they hope to take the last bit of time to improve their fitness for the grand occasion.

Buoyed by solid short game, Hou Yu-Sang dropped seven birdies today, as many as current leader Wilairungrueng, but was set back by two bogeys and one double bogey, which came on Hole no.4 where she played short on her second shot as the wind calmed in a sudden.

Hou tried to compensate with an aggressive approach but overhit, resulting in a three-putt. “That was about the worst mistake today. But I can’t be too angry. I felt like I’ve learnt to hold back the desire to attack the pin, and really impose a more consistent style of play over the last half of the year. I feel a lot more comfortable,” said the elder of the Hou sisters, who was part of Team University of Arizona when they conquered the NCAA field and was crowned the 2018 champion in May.

Tied for fifth, Lee Hsin made five birdies and three bogeys in the opening round. “I got off to a solid start, but I might be trying for too much on that back nine and the mistakes crept in,” said Lee, who had a decent putter, needing just 28 putts. Also in equal fifth was Lee Chia-Pei with three birdies and one bogey, though she felt she should go lower as she missed quite a few 10-footers on the green and attempted 31 putts.

In the fourth-year partnership, the ICTSI Champion Tour - Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club will be the first of the two TLPGA tour and LPGT (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour) co-sanctioned tournaments.

The winner out of a field composed of 100 international elites will be decided on Friday after 54 holes, who can take away a $15,000 cash prize. The runner-up will take $7,500. The $75,000 event serves as the sixth leg on the 2018 TLPGA Tour.

A cut will be made to the low 50 and ties after Thursday. Second-round play begins at 7:00 on Thursday morning; the late wave will set out at 11:00.