Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) of Taiwan held off Thai Wanchana Poruangrong after two play-off holes to lift her third career title today at the ICTSI Pradera Ladies Classic.

The Taiwanese amateur made her first breakthrough to win the 2018 TLPGA Ladies Open – Nan Pao last May. And just last month, Hou again topped the pro field to score her second victory at the Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge on the China LPGA Tour. The win this week marks her third overall in her young career and second on the TLPGA Tour.

The younger of the Yu-Sang (侯羽桑) and Yu-Chiang sisters, the 18-year-old finished the regular 18 holes today with a 3-under, composed of five birdies and two bogeys, to force a two-player play-off with Poruangrong, who carded 70.

The duo came back to the par-5 18th hole of the Pradera Verde Golf & Country Club. Poruangrong couldn’t make enough push in her two attempts, steadily making pars, which just wasn’t good enough for a determined Hou. Hou took her second chance, lofting a well-calculated third shot within tapping distance of the pin and then closing out with ease. Poruangrong, as the best-finishing pro, pocketed the first prize of $14,000.

“I was hitting some great second shots, which was important, because it gave me less pressure on the greens, knowing that I was going to have a lot of chances no matter what,” Hou said. “The weather was nicer, compared to the previous rounds. Although the wind picked up again in the middle of the day, I never lost my concentration. I’m really happy with the way I was able to keep up with my game plan.”

Hou said the two consecutive birdies on 11th to 12th were key that fueled her final charge to the top. She actually missed her tee shot on the par-3 11th, but holed it out from 15 yards, and followed it up with another birdie on the par-5 12th with a successful 4-footer. Though she dropped a shot on the 14th after three-putting, she bounced back right away with a birdie on the next hole with a long 12-footer to continue pressuring leading Poruangrong as both went 5-under to that point. Hou needed just 26 putts throughout the day.

Hou, who follows the footsteps of her big sister and has committed to play for the University of Arizona, said every victory still means so much to her, and that she never take them for granted. “To me, these are like a recognition of my hard work, and a reminder to me that I have bigger goals to chase and I’m on the right way.

Hou has confirmed to play two more events on the TLPGA Tour this summer at the Kaohsiung City Ladies Open for Charity and the CTBC Ladies Open.

Leader in the first two rounds, Japanese Mayuna Furukawa carded 73 to finish equal third with Daniella Uy (71) of the Philippines at 3-under 213. Thai Arpichaya Yubol wrapped it up at even-par 216 and solo fifth.

Taiwan’s Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏) used a 74 to return to the top-7 along with Saraporn Chamchoi, Jackie Chulya, Dolnapa Phudthipinij, Hwang Ye-Nah, and local favorite Mary Princess Superal at 218.

“I’m feeling great! It’s my best finish in about 18 months. The putting was good, especially that last one, a very long one, on the 18th green that helped me get back into the top-10,” said Chang. “I remained at the pretty high level despite the frustration that I made that OB and triple-bogey on the 4th. The back-nine was a roller-coaster ride with birdies on 14th and 15th, and bogeys on 16th and 17th. I guess I was too nervous but it was just fortunate I managed to make that final birdie.” Chang used 28 attempts on the greens on Friday.

The 2019 ICTSI Pradera Ladies Classic is the third and final TLPGT-LPGT (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour) co-sanctioned event in the season -- the fifth season in a row the two tours partner up. It is overall the ninth stop on the 2019 TLPGA Tour.