Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎) and amateur Hou Yu-Sang (侯羽桑) sit atop the first-round leaderboard of the 2019 CTBC Ladies Open. They each carded 3-under 69 to hold a 2-stroke edge over Chinese Li Jiayun (黎佳韵).

At even-par 72 are a five-way tie for fourth which includes Taiwan’s Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎), China’s Pan Yanhong (潘艷紅), and Thai trio Titiya Plucksataporn, Supamas Sangchan, and Chatprapa Siriprakob.

Three-time pro tour event titlist Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔), Yu Pei-Lin (余珮琳), Chen Meng-Chu (陳孟竺), Babe Liu (劉嬿), Malaysia’s Aretha Pan, and Thai Trichat Cheenglab were another shot adrift at 1-over 73.

Tsai Pei-Ying, who was fresh off a win at the JLPGA’s Step-Up Tour ECC Ladies Golf Tournament last month, continued her high level of hitting, on all departments. With an average driving distance of 276.5 yards today, Tsai was equally powerful and accurate as she didn’t miss any fairway. She made 14 greens and needed 29 putts which converted four birdie chances, with the longest one on the 15th from near the edge of the green from 45 feet out.

“Thanks to my caddie who gave me so much useful advice, with a little luck as well, I was playing beyond my expectation. It’s really difficult to get a birdie on the rolling greens here at the Linkou Club but I managed to string a few good ones,” Tsai said.

Tsai finished in a tie for second at the Taiwan Ladies Open in early season, which won her five wildcard opportunities to venture on the Korea LPGA Tour. Although she only made the cut on two occasions, an unexpected takeaway was that she discovered a new preference in her iron choices, so she changed the entire set of those three months ago, which greatly improved her short game. “My control got better, and the ball would sit better on the greens. I was gaining lots of confidence and I think it was why I started to consistently finish in the top-10 on the Japan development tour, and finally I got that first victory,” said Tsai, who’s currently ranked no.2 on the JLPGA Step-Up Tour.

Tsai would earn her way back to the main JLPGA Tour next year if she stays at the top-2 until the end of the season.

Hou Yu-Sang opened her third CTBC Ladies Open campaign with four birdies and one bogey on Thursday. The University of Arizona golf team member went “double” last year at the NCAA Championships in both individual and team disciplines.

“I always feel great playing at the CTBC event, just as in 2016 and 2017. I also did pretty well, then,” said Yu-Sang, who made a chip-in birdie on the 13th from 18 yards away.

A criminal psychology student, Yu-Sang said, “I love observing people, guessing what they’re thinking.” The Taiwanese is currently 39th in the World Golf Amateur Ranking.

Three-time winner against pro fields, Hou Yu-Chiang posted a 73 with two birdies and three bogeys. The young sibling of the Hou sisters held two titles this year at the CLPGA Tour’s Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Challenge and the ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

“I wasn’t hitting great, couldn’t really play into my best rhythm on the slippery greens, but tried my best to stay as close to the top as I can. I still got plenty of chances in the next two rounds in me,” said Yu-Chiang.

CTBC players Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) and Shi Yuting (石昱婷) carded 74 and 78, respectively. Shi’s younger sister Yuli (石昱莉) shot 79.

Struggling under the heat, both Shih sisters will need to raise their level tomorrow to have their place in the final-round, as only the top-50 and ties at the end of Friday move on.

Defending champion Chonlada Chayanun didn’t seem as comfortable on the new venue as she posted a 7-over 79 and sit in a tie for 63rd. She’s currently the no.9 player on the CLPGA Tour order of merit.

108 players from nine countries compete at this week’s CTBC Ladies Open for the NT$5 million purse. The winner will win a NT$1 million top prize.

This year, the CTBC Ladies Open made its maiden voyage to the 54-year-old Linkou Golf & Country Club. This is only the third TLPGA Tour event in ten years the Linkou course has played host to, which was previously the backdrop of the 2014 Yeang Der TLPGA Ladies Open and the 2010 TLPGA Invitational.

The TLPGA Tour and the CLPGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament is played on the West and South Course of the Linkou Club. The competition layout is set at 6,710 yards long.

Second-round play is scheduled to begin at 7:30 tomorrow morning from the first and tenth tees.