Wang Li-Ning (王莉甯) set the early pace with a 1-under 71 in the first round of the BNP PARIBAS & TLPGA Heritage Tour, a 36-hole TLPGA “Heritage Tour” series event. An Ho-Yu (安禾佑) and Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚) sit tied for second with just a 1-shot deficit.

Wang will be looking to secure consecutive victories in the Heritage Tour series after successfully defending her YTS & SUNCITY Heritage Tour crown last month.

39 TLPGA Tour golfers are competing through 36 holes for a total prize of NT$600,000 in the “Heritage Tour” pro-junior series event alongside 37 amateur and junior players. The competition layout, set at 6,331 yards long this week, covers the East Course and Central Course at the Ta Shee Golf Club.

The BNP PARIBAS began its sponsorships for the TLPGA Heritage Tour tournament since 2016. Winner on Thursday will receive NT$71,000.

Wang’s disappointing iron display saw her only reach eight greens in regulation today, but it was salvaged by a remarkable putting performance. She found the bottom of the cup from around 9-foot range multiple times to save pars, and used several chip-and-putt combination to produced some fine birdies.

Wang had to endure two double-bogey setbacks in her round today on the 3rd and 17th hole, but other than that, she picked up an impressive five birdies and pleasantly found herself set for another Heritage Tour glory.

An Ho-Yu witness about four or five mid-rangers skid by the hole, finally wrapping up the day with just one birdie and one bogey on the score card. She needed 30 attempts on the greens. “I fell short on the greens too often today. Left so many birdies out there. I will need to try to carry it a bit longer in the next round,” An said, who is trailing by one shot.

Also at even-par 72 was Liang Yi-Ling, who fell to no other but Wang for a runner-up finish in the most recent Heritage Tour tournament at the Suncity Club last month.

Best moment of Liang’s round was a downhill 30-footer on the third green, which rolled into the hole for her first birdie. She snatched another pair of birdies on the back nine, but the efforts were canceled by three bogeys. She needed 25 putts.

A five-way tie loomed with another shot adrift with Juliana Hung (洪玉霖), Lai Yi-Ting (賴怡廷), Lee Chia-Pei (李佳霈), Tseng Chen (曾楨), and Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎) all carded 73s.