KENDA Tires TLPGA Open is going into its 10th year as the Taifong Golf Club welcomes 93 pro players and 7 amateur players from five nations from Wednesday to Friday, who will be vying for a purse of NT$3 million and a champion cash prize of NT$540,000.
Fresh off a BNP PARIBAS & TLPGA Heritage Tour victory this past week, Juliana Hung (洪玉霖) is looking for a historic three-peat at the KENDA Tires Open. Hung has got two TLPGA Tour victories this year at the Jing Mao Ladies Open and the aforementioned 36-hole TLPGA Heritage Tour event.
Former titlists Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒) (2019), Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚) (2015), and Babe Liu (劉嬿) (2014) also return in hopes of reliving the glories. “I’m grateful to be back here at the KENDA Tires Open. KENDA Tires has been one of the most supportive brands for women’s golf. Thank you for what you have brought to us players for the past ten years,” said Lin. “And a big thank you to Taifong Club for always giving us the warmest welcome and keeping the course in the best conditions.”
P.K. Kongkraphan strives to take a record fourth win in a single TLPGA Tour season. The Thai champion has picked up triumphs at the WPG Ladies Open, Friends of TLPGA Open, and Green Cup Charity Open during the summer.
This year’s TLPGA Heritage Tour series winners Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏) and Wang Li-Ning (王莉甯) are looming in the strong field. In fact, Chang holds the low-round record at the Taifong Club with a 10-under 62, produced in the second round in the 2021 edition of the tournament. The competition layout this week is set at 6,304 yards.
KENDA captures about 85% of the world’s market need for golf cart wheels. The Changhua-based company started to provide sponsorship supports to professional golfers in 2003. In KENDA’s 50th anniversary in 2013, the first KENDA Tires TLPGA Open was staged.
The players got to test the course for one last time in today’s pro-am event. Juliana led her teammates to the victory with a total score of 14-under 58. The green speed is measured at 9 - 9.5.
First-round action of the 2023 KENDA Tire TLPGA Open will begin 7:30 on Wednesday morning from both first and tenth tees. Hole-in-one prizes from BESV E-Bike, EAGLE Golf, SAMPO, and Departure will be up for grabs for the first Ace on Hole 2, 8, 12, 15 respectively.
A cut will be made after 36 holes to send the top-50 and ties into Friday’s final round. |