Wu Hsiao-Ling (吳曉玲) of Taiwan posted a 5-under 67 to take the first-round lead at the Party Golfers Ladies Open. She’s two shots clear of a group of three at 69 that includes Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎), Lee Tai-Ling (李黛翎), and Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲).

Chasing for a third consecutive victory on the TLPGA Tour, Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒) sits in equal eighth with four shots off the pace. Wu Chia-Yen’s (吳佳晏) title defense campaign took a hit as she trailed seven strokes in a tie for 35th.

The National Garden Golf and Country Club is the backdrop of this week’s Party Golfers Ladies Open, featuring a prize purse of $100,000. The winner will take home $18,000.

Wu, giving credits to her caddie Lin, enjoyed an impeccable day at the office hitting all 14 fairways, and needing just 27 putts, which converted six birdies chances.

“Last week I opened the KENDA Tire tournament so badly with a first-round 81, but I tried to let the passed pass, and came up with a 1-under in the second round, and it kind of gave me more belief in myself that I can make things happen even when I’m far from my best,” Wu said. “I carried that belief into this week. I was very concentrated on every shot, tried to bring out the best golf. And big thanks to my caddie Lin who knows a lot about the National Garden course. He gave me lots of spot-on advice on how to cope with the break and grain of the greens, which was key to my performance today. It was all about taking the chances on the greens.”

The college senior made just one bogey on Wednesday. “The season is going fast. I hope I can gain more improvement in myself and get some nice results before the season ends.” Wu is playing her fourth season on the TLPGA Tour.

Chang Ching-Ling, who only fell to Lin Tzu-Chi through the final play-off at the KENDA Tire TLPGA Open last week, used also just 27 putts in the first-round, making six birdies, one bogey, and an extra double-bogey. On the par-4 15th, Chang dumped the ball twice in the cart path before she finally made the green in four attempts. She ended up dropping two shots and handed the lead to Wu.

“My new driver gave me extra yardage, which might be a bit of help for a nice round today. I’ve been trying some different things with my putting, too. It looked pretty good from today,” Chang said.

Lee Tai-Ling needed only 26 putts, thanks to precise iron play that set her up nicely, and she turned four of them into birdies, offset by one bogey. She made a few impressive putts on the back nine to stay in the front pack, including an 18-foot birdie on the 12th, a 12-foot birdie on the 15th, and a crucial 12-footer for par on the par-4 16th. She closed the round tied with Chang and Hsieh Yu-Ling, who hit 12 fairways and 12 greens in the first round that saw four birdies and one bogey on her scorecard.

“The save on the sixth hole was a booster for sure. I was put under so much pressure,” said Hsieh. “I had still 25 yards to go on my third shot on the par-4, didn’t made the best slice that flew 9 feet past the hole, but needed just one putt to leave it with a par.”

Chen Cih-Hui (陳慈惠) scored two eagles in the first round of the Party Golfers’ Open today. She lofted from 190 yards to 33 feet on the par-5 13th, calmly making the long putt for eagle. She replicated similar play later on the 7th (she started from the 10th hole) and sank another 36-footer to achieve the rare feat of two eagles in one round. However, her putter was not consistent enough; she earned another birdie on the day but dropped four shots along the way. Chen is now in a tie for eighth.

Taiwanese Tai Chia-Wen (戴嘉汶), Thai player Mookharin Ladgratok, and Malaysia’s Genevieve i-rynn Ling share the fifth place at 2-under-par 70.

“Preferred lies” were allowed due to overnight rain. The competition layout is set at 6,248 yards long.

Second-round action begins at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. A cut will be made to the low 50 and ties at the end of Round 2.

The power-packed 2019 field consists of 102 players from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, and hosting nation Taiwan.

The Party Golfers’ TLPGA Open is co-sanctioned with the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) for the second year. The two Tours started their jointly sanction partnerships since 2015.

Title sponsor, the Party Golfers, is an amateur golf team comprised of local entrepreneurs, who share a strong passion for the golf sport as they lent their support and gave rise to the first Party Golfers TLPGA Open in 2015.

Located on the Huoyan Mountain, the National Garden Golf Club provides golfers with breathtaking views of the Taiwan Strait and allows them to appreciate its collection of sculpture pieces by renowned Chinese artist Yang Yingfeng which can be seen around the fairways and at the club’s entrance and vestibule.