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22-year-old Cheng Yi-Yu (鄭宜宥) took the first-round lead at the TLPGA & Tsai Hsing Heritage Tour after turning in a 2-under par 70 on Thursday. This week’s event at the T.H.E. CLUB is a 36-hole format pro-junior event. The top performer of the Group Professionals will receive a NT$71,000 winner prize.
It was also the middle day of the TLPGA Qualification Tournament. Liang Yi-Ling (梁宜羚) posted a 1-under 143 after also a 70 today. “I’ve never shot in 60s in a pro tournament, but sadly my putting just lacked some luck today.” Liang said.
Liang finished with 225 and a tie in 31st in last week’s Fubon Ladies Open, and with that result, she’s eligible to apply for her membership. “But I want to win it rather than to apply for it,” said Liang. An 85 or better score is all Liang would need to qualify.
In the Group Professional, Cheng got off to a good start with six birdies and four bogeys, which would give her a 2-stroke advantage to the rest of the field before tomorrow’s final round.
However, the third-year TLPGA Tour member thinks she was restricted with an old injury on the left wrist and a better performance was expected. “I missed quite a few 3-4 foot putts towards the end,” said Cheng. “My wrist was actually aching from the beginning; it was definitely a distraction.”
Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏), this year’s TLPGA Heritage Tour winner, and Huang Shu-Huai (黃舒淮) had a share in the second place after carding a even par 72 each.
Except for the Group Amateurs of Men’s 16-25, all other amateur and junior players get to play with the TLPGA pros in the same group, for the purpose of the learning and the “heritage” of experiences, for which the series of tournaments are named. “You can see they all had great potential,” said Cheng. “On the experience part, though, they sure would need some time to evolve their own approaches to the game.” |
