Huang Ching (黃靖) and Tseng Tsai-Ching (曾彩晴) were the only players finishing in red figures today at the challenging Nan Yi setting. They are tied in the lead after Wednesday’s first-round in the NT$4 million SAMPO Ladies Open.

Lynn Chiu (邱齡緹), who recorded her second career ace on the par-3 3rd hole, carded an even-par 72 to sit in a tie for third with Taiwanese Kiwi Juliana Hung (洪玉霖), and Thailand’s Chonlada Chayanun, Kultida Pramphun, and Punpaka Phuntumabamrung. Two more Thai players finished the first-round in the top-10 with Nanon Srisawang in solo eighth, and Alisara Wedchakama in equal ninth.

Chiu took out her 8-iron and holed it out from 160 yards, which briefly brought her in the lead. She ended up with two more birdies but the effort was canceled by four bogeys. “It’s very hot out there, physically you’ll have to kind of push yourself. So, I’m just happy I stayed focused throughout, especially on such a difficult layout,” Chiu said. “And yeah, the Ace was a nice surprise. I was like ‘wow, it just went in like that!’ It was almost too easy.”

Hung, the defending champion this week, closed the first-round with a hard-earned chip-in birdie from 25 yards on the final hole and squeezed into the top-3. “The ball doesn’t stop as easily on the greens. I thought I hit pretty well but the judgement on the distance was a little off because of that,” Hung said, who was playing alongside former world no.1 Yani Tseng (曾雅妮). “It was great to play with her. I felt really motivated to do well in front of her and the big crowd.” Hung is looking for her third triumph of the season after winning the GRIN Cup Charity Open and the KENDA Tires TLPGA Open.

Tseng Tsai-Ching, a University of Tulsa graduate, shot five birdies, two bogeys, and one double-bogey, and found herself in the lead in what was her professional debut.

“I was a bit overwhelmed by the occasion and the excitement, because this is my first tournament as a pro. I felt more settled as the game went on. It was a good round, but I’ll hopefully be cutting down those unnecessary errors,” said Tseng, who had been developing her game the past four years on the NCAA league.

EPSON Tour member Huang Ching is also mostly playing on the U.S. soil. “I haven’t really been playing to my expectation, so I decided to come back home last month and to try to pick up the peace in mind and find the drive again,” Huang admitted. “I wasn’t really thinking a lot technically. Today, I just tried to stay positive and concentrated on the execution of every single shot. And I thought it went pretty well, pretty much everything was going to the right place.” Huang was actually in solo lead before dropping a shot on the par-4 18th.

In her first official outing after receiving a hip surgery, Yani Tseng finished the first-round in equal 53rd on 8-over par after making one birdie, seven bogeys, and one double-bogey. “I knew I still wasn’t fully fit. My right leg hasn’t the endurance for all the walking. But you always got to try. I felt I did okay during practice because I wouldn’t have to walk that much, but in a real event, my fitness level just isn’t quite there yet. I’ll have to take a good rest now and hoping it’ll get better tomorrow!”

The fourth annual SAMPO Ladies Open features 77 TLPGA players, including 19 from Thailand, and 17 amateurs, who compete through three rounds from Wednesday at the Nan Yi Golf & Country Club for the NT$720,000 top prize. The competition layout was set at 6,426 yards long this week.

The 18-hole “Xiu Ju Cup” Senior Ladies Professional Tournament will be held concurrently on Friday in memory of deceased mother of SAMPO President Mr. Chen S-T.. The invitational features 13 senior golfers separated into Group Legends and Group Senior.

Four Hole-in-One prizes will be on offer on No.3, 8, 13, and 15. The winner on Friday will be rewarded with an additional pack of SAMPO appliance worth a total of $60,890.