Taiwanese amateur Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) shot a 2-under 70 to steal the lead heading into the final round of the NT$6 million TLPGA & Royal Open. She started the day one shot behind overnight leader Parinda Phokan of Thailand but is now one shot ahead of Phokan, and compatriots Hanna Chen (陳子涵) and Chang Tzu-Yi (張子怡) at a 36-hole total of 3-under 141.

However, there are eight players all within just a 3-stroke margin. Defending champion Pauline del Rosario (71) from the Philippines, the recent CTBC Ladies Open winner Chonlada Chayanun (71), and Chen Meng-Chu (陳孟竺) (70) were in equal fifth at 1-under 143. Thai Saranporn Langkulgasettrin (71), Taiwanese Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹) (70), Chen I-Wen (陳依妏) (71), and teenager Wu Chia-Yen (吳佳晏) (70) sit another shot apart at even-par 144. Winner on the final Sunday will take away a NT$1,080,000 paycheck.

Peaceful weather, breezy wind, and the more accessible pin position, the Royal Kuan-His Golf Club posted less challenge than yesterday and allowed players to go aggressive with birdies flying everywhere.

Hou, one of the only two players to break par on Friday, today carded three birdies, offset by one bogey, which was resulted by a three-putt on the first hole. It was not until an 8-footer sunk on the 18th green that Hou emerged from a four-way tie as the outright leader.

Relying on a solid driving display with just one fairway missed, Hou secured 14 greens in regulation and thus setting up a handful of attackable putts within fifteen feet; however, only three were converted. She made 30 attempts on the greens.

“I look forward to what tomorrow will bring. Of course, another win would be great,” said the 17-year-old, who captured already her first victory this May at the TLPGA Ladies Open – Nan Pao; she was just one shot shy of the eventual champion a couple of weeks ago at the CTBC Ladies Open. “If it would be as calm as today, I’ll try to keep to the aggressive game plan.”

Low round of the day was 68, which was made by Taiwanese Hanna Chen. She made an almost impeccable 17 greens out of 18, and missed just one fairway, which rewarded her with five birdies. And an only bogey came on the 5th hole where she needed three putts in a total of 29. The longest successful birdie putt was from fifteen feet on 11th.

“It’s been a rough year for me. I haven’t played such a good round in a long, long time, and I think I haven’t made it to the leader’s group in the final round for more than a year,” said the fourth-grader on the TLPGA Tour, who is still in search of her first career triumph.

Another 17-year-old on the first page of the leaderboard was the reigning champion of the 15-18 Girls Division at the IMG Academy Junior Golf Championship in July. Chang Tzu-Yi, who carded 70, made 13 greens in regulation but wasn’t too sharp on the greens. “I went left of the target too often. It is definitely something I need to work on on the practice range. I hope it will be better in the final round and hopefully good enough to win,” said Hanna Chen.

First round leader Phokan took a penalty shot on the 4th today after a tee shot kicked way left out of bound which left her frustrated with a double-bogey. She added a three-putt bogey on the 10th but fortunately found the form on the 11th where she captured the first of three consecutive birdies to get it back to even, which lasted till the end. Her last TLPGA Tour outing was ended in a tie for 34th at the Hitachi Ladies Class at the start of the season.

The TLPGA & Royal Open is the one and only “Premier” event in the 2018 TLPGA Tour season which allow 60 players to move past the cut line, set at 10-over 154 at the end of the day, into the final round.

Sunday’s action will start at 9:10 in the morning from the first and tenth tee. The leader’s group will be sent off at 10:50. Spectator entry is free in all three rounds.