New Zealand’s Juliana Hung (洪玉霖) almost blew away her massive lead and was forced into a play-off by Chen Hsuan (陳萱) today in the final round of the KENDA Tire TLPGA Open, but she held firm with commendable calm to outlast Chen after seven extra holes and secure her first TLPGA Tour victory. The win is worth NT$550,000.

“To be honest, there has been some highs and lows along the road, I did think about quitting the sport during some tough times, so this win is truly a wonderful confidence booster, now that I know I’m on the right direction and I just need to keep working hard and keep believing,” Hung said. “Winning today in one thing, winning consistently is another. I will enjoy the moment shortly, and then I know I still have a lot to work on and improve. But I’m excited about the future!”

Things looked bright for 36-hole leader Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏), who just wrote three new records with her second-round 62, early on, as she moved one shot lower with a birdie on the 3rd hole. However, when Hung scored three consecutive birdies from Hole 3 to Hole 5 and piling up pressure on Chang’s shoulder, it ultimately saw Chang give away her lead after a double-bogey on the par-3 6th and soon she just faltered away. Chang closed the round on two straight bogeys to complete Friday with a 5-over 77, ending up in solo eighth at 2-under par 214.

Hung, trailing by two shots to begin the day, found herself holding a two shots cushion at the turn after a front-nine 4-under 32, but she couldn’t find another birdie to push across the finish line. Still, it looked almost never in doubt that it was Hung’s victory to take. However, Chen had a thing to say.

Down by three shots with just three holes remaining, Chen mounted a remarkable comeback by pulling three birdies in a row, compared to none on Hung’s side, which earned her a chance to force an extended hole.

Hung turned in a 4-under and Chen shot a 5-under today for both of them to finish the regular 54 holes on 9-under 207. The duo went back to par-4 18th to decide a winner.

After six pars, the officials made a change to pin position, but the tussle remained tight.

On the fifth play-off hole, Hung hit well over the green and looked destined to fall into the sand trap before a bunker rake dramatically stopped it. She then moved past another crisis on the following hole where her putter didn’t really hit through. The ball looked to be short but finally circled the cup and sank.

Hung and Chen were sent to the par-3 17th hole on their seventh play-off attempt. Chen made a decent drive and left a 10-footer for birdie, however, she would first witness Hung, from 21 feet away, release the perfect putt to strike the first birdie in this sudden-death. Her own putt, on the other hand, tilted left and evaded the hole.

This was one of the longest play-offs in tour history, spending more than two hours. The runner-up finish still marks Chen’s best appearance at the Taifong Golf Club.

It’s been a memorable week for 16-year-old amateur Liao Hsin-Chun (廖信淳). The first-round leader finished in solo third on 7-under. Teeing off in the final pair alongside Chang, Liao didn’t seem to find her footing from the start, making two bogeys in the first two holes; but after she settled, she went on to make four birdies against zero bogeys, finishing in the top-3 in a TLPGA Tour event for the first time. The performance also won Liao the low amateur honor.

Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎) shot a bogey-free, low-round 66 to jumped into a tie for sixth with Hanna Chen (陳子涵), who fell one shot down with a 73 today. Lynn Chiu (邱齡緹) finished in lone fourth at 211. Wu Yi-Ching (伍以晴) wrapped it up in the fifth place at 212.