Ornnicha Konsunthea set the bar high at the 2024 KENDA Tires TLPGA Open. The Thai player was firing from all cylinders to produce one eagle, six birdies, and just one bogey to take the first-round lead with a 7-under 65.

The 11th annual KENDA Tires TLPGA Open gets underway this week at the Taichung International Country Club, a new backdrop for the NT$3-million TLPGA Tour event. The competition layout is set at 6,357 yards.

Konsunthea, who has never topped the first-round leaderboard at an TLPGA Tour event, displayed high quality putting throughout Wednesday to find herself three shots clear of the field after a superb opening 65.

“I made an 80-footer on the par-5 eighth hole to earn that eagle, which gave me incredible confidence. I was putting really well since then,” said Konsunthea, who picked up a string of three consecutive birdies between 13th to 15th to secure her leading status. “I am not a big hitter, but I’m confident with my accuracy. I’m happy I was able to take advantage of that.”

Friends of TLPGA Open champion Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎) maintained her decent form, missing just one fairway and two greens in the first-round to card a 68. Chang had another title under her belt this Summer at the 36-hole YTS & SUNCITY Heritage Tour.

“I was very solid from the tees. The fairways were actually quite small, but I was hitting straight, and putting the ball on great spots, which opened up a lot of opportunities to hit the greens,” said Chang, who made a total of six birdies in the opening round and temporarily sit in solo second.

Wang Li-Ning (王莉甯) shot a bogey-free 69 to rise into equal third place after the first round with Lai Yi-Ting (賴怡廷) and Babe Liu (劉嬿).

“I was driving very well. That created some good opportunities to attack. But unfortunately, I wasn’t quite feeling it with my putter, wasn’t quite able to convert those chances. I think I left some birdies out there, especially on the front nine,” Wang said, who made 15 greens in regulation. “I tried to make some adjustment and it got a lot better after the turn. It was overall a very good round. I didn’t make any bogey, which was pretty amazing. But I’ll still need to work on my iron game. It fell short at times.”

Babe Liu had spent most of her season in Japan but made a strong return right away with a 3-under 69 first-round here at the Taichung International Country Club. She hit 13 fairways, 14 greens, and birdied four times, offset by just one bogey after a three-putt on the multi-layered green of the 15th hole.

There will be a cut tomorrow after 36 holes, sending only the top-50 and ties into Friday’s final round. Hole-in-one prizes from BESV E-Bike, EAGLE Golf, SAMPO, and Departure will be up for grabs for the first Ace on Hole 3, 7, 12, 16 respectively.

Title sponsor this week, KENDA Rubber accounts for about 80% of the world’s market share 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.