Wu Chia-Yen (吳佳晏) snatched her fourth TLPGA Tour victory today at the CTBC Invitational, in only her second season as a pro. The 17-year-old needed two extra holes to fend off Jessica Peng (彭婕) in the final, pocketing a record-high NT$3 million cash prize.

Four years ago, Wu became the youngest semifinalist in the U.S. Women′s Amateur championship at only 13. In 2020, a 16-year-old Wu was the breakout star on the TLPGA Tour since she turned pro in May, sweeping three titles in as many months. Now, she’s held off the challenge from 31 other top local women to tally her fourth professional victory.

“I haven’t been doing great in the last two tournaments. So, I told myself to try to have fun here, to not give myself too much pressure for one week, especially with this exciting match-play form,” said Wu. “I really want to thank CTBC Bank for the support, as well as all the sponsors. I would like to give part of my earnings to a number of dog and cat shelters. I love them and they deserve big love and care. My family and I adopted one little cat back in our house.”

In fact, Wu jumped to a comfortable 3-up lead soon after the turn, birdying no.10 and 11. After missing a 2-footer on the 13th green to lose 1 point, Wu still carried a 2-up lead onto the 17th hole; however, Peng showcased incredible resilience to take the match into a tiebreaker by winning 17 and 18 with consecutive birdies.

“I was very tired, and I felt like I always hit a little shorter than I expected because of the fatigue. But I grabbed that thin line of hope on the 17th, making that down-hill birdie putt from 39 feet. I was really pumped up,” said Peng, who converted another birdie to level the match on the final hole, where Wu’s attempt to close out the match failed after a shocking miss from 2 feet.

In the second play-off hole, Wu finally sank the important 2-footer to make the winning par against Peng’s three-putt bogey, claiming the biggest title in her young career. Peng, as the runner-up, took home a NT$1 million check, and, to her surprise, won a contract with the CTBC Bank, becoming the latest name after An Ho-Yu (安禾佑) to join the CTBC Bank ambassador roaster.

An, who also needed an extra hole to outlast Lee Chia-Pei (李佳霈), pocketed NT$350,000 for the third-place finish in what has been her first professional outing.

“My level dropped a little after the turn, missed a few short putts in a row and opened the door myself for Chia-Pei,” said An, who lost Hole 12 with a par and 13 with a bogey, couldn’t regain the lead by the time the regular round ended.

An returned to the 18th, didn’t make the green but saved it with a well-placed chip. On the opposing side, Lee was in instant trouble as her tee shot found a sand hazard, and she needed another two shots to arrive the green, when the outcome of the match was settled.

“It’s been a very difficult week here at Tong Hwa Golf & Country Club, very windy for one thing, and the pins were extremely tricky. We are also playing long, which made things even more complicated. Although I didn’t win, I’m still proud at this result,” said An.

“This is my first match-play. I’m happy to make it to the final 4,” Lee said. “Yes, I was a little nervous, could’ve played a little better, but it’s been a memorable ride and a great learning for me.”

32 TLPGA Tour stars were invited into the very first Match-Play event on the tour. The 2021 CTBC Invitational, originally the CTBC Ladies Open for the past eight years, features a record NT$5.75 million purse. The Tong Hwa Golf & Country Club has seen over 2,000 spectators over these past three days to come and witness the world-class golf.

Under strict measures and New Taipei City government instructions against COVID, players this week were allowed to compete without a face mask to maximize their performance under the heat.