Since the return of the TLPGA Tour in June, after the pandemic outbreak, four 54-hole events (three open tournaments, one future series), and two 36-hole pro-junior Heritage Tour events have completed. Although it still saw a reduction in the number of tournaments compared to the 2019 season, on Wednesday, the Tour is having a new event─the Wistron Ladies Open, featuring the biggest purse post-lockdown. The prize pool of the 54-hole showdown is NT$6 million.

“It’s like sending a bowl of hot soup in the coldest days,” birthday girl Hsu Wei-Lin (徐薇淩) said of the addition of the Wistron Ladies Open to the Tour. Because of virus concerns, the LPGA Tour member decided to enjoy an extended stay on home soil. “I’ve always love to compete on the Tong Hwa Golf & Country Club. Thank you for hosting us. I wanted to share my birthday luck with everyone and hope for the best success to the organizers and all players.”

“It’s a pleasant surprise we became a lead sponsor,” Wistron president Lin H.M. said. “Wistron has been a partner at the TLPGA & Royal Open. But the pandemic forced the cancellation of this year’s Royal event, and we thought, ‘why not have our own one?’ And the idea was greatly supported by the TLPGA.”

“We will try our best to ensure the Wistron Ladies Open becomes a permanent fixture on the annual TLPGA Tour calendar, and that the prize will continue to grow,” Lin said on the pre-tournament press meeting.

Liu Yi-Chen, chairwoman of the TLPGA, expressed gratitude to Wistron, who maintained a partnership with the association in the past 16 years, as well as to the Tong Hwa Golf & Country Club for hosting the golfers.

“It’s something we think very highly of─to have the chance to support these international tournaments in a way that would also help lift and benefit the local community. Tong Hwa will ensure the greatest playing conditions for these talented ladies,” said Gobo Group representative Chen C.M..

The 2020 Wistron Ladies Open featured a 90-player (27 amateurs) field which included former World No.1 Yani Tseng (曾雅妮), World Amateur No.1 Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) and sister Hou Yu-Sang (侯羽桑), Japan LPGA champion Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), multiple-titlist this year Wu Chia-Yen (吳佳晏), and Tour leading players Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉), Lee Min (李旻), Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲), and Babe Liu (劉嬿).