Youngsters ruled Day 1 at the 2013 KENDA Tires TLPGA Open at the Taipei golf club, Chien Pei-Yun (錢珮芸) and Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒), two Taiwanese players of the 1990 generation, both carded a 3-under 69 to take the lead into the second round.

Wet towels became new fashion trend for the players as temperature reached 35℃ at the Taipei Golf Club, players wrapped their necks with wet towels or even placed them on the head to expel the heat.

Taking a big gulp of iced “dark plum” water between swings to reduce body heat, Chien Pei-Yun, the 2012 Symetra Tour rookie, shot a satisfying six birdies and three bogeys to finish 69.

Chien got 15 GIR and her precise irons made up for her lack of success on the greens. She had to take 30 putts for today’s round.

“It was so hot out there and l still felt a little fatigued from last week’s tournament,” said “Money” Chien. “Glad that my good friend (Cheng) Meng-Chu (陳孟竺) is in the same group with me and she gave me some useful advise!”

Finishing at 69 as well, another 1990-er Lin Tzu-Chi, however, needed just a stunning 25 putts. Lin 3-putted holes no.5 and no.9 which gave her the only two bogeys for the day. “The course was in amazing conditions!” said Lin. “But the grass was really fast and I got lucky in a few shots that I had to save it off the greens, so I’m happy with the results.”

Last week’s top and second finishing professionals, Koreans Ye-Na Chung and A Ram Cho, were overwhelmed by the unusual heat. “It’s too hot!” Cho said, who scored 78. Chung is better at 73 in T10, working her way through the scorching sun with a wet towel covered on her head.

Former LPGA player Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) of Taiwan finished her day of “nightmare” with a 4-over par 76, sitting in a tie for 27th. “I was sweating like a pig!”

The KENDA Tires TLPGA Open by Kenda Rubber Ind., Co., Ltd. is a new event in 2013, boosting a purse of NT$3 million and NT$600,000 going to the champion.