The third round of the opening event of the 2026 TPGA Taiwan Tour season, the CHAU-SHI Series – Chang Wah Open, was held today (27th) at Hsin Yi Golf Club in Kaohsiung. Thailand’s Warun Ieamgaew carded five birdies and one bogey for a 68, moving into the lead with a three-round total of 12-under 204. Defending home player Su Chin-hung shot a 71 and sits one stroke behind at 11-under 205 in second place.
The final round will be played tomorrow, with Warun aiming for his second TPGA title and Su seeking to defend his crown.
Lee Chieh-po posted a 69 for a three-round total of 207, three shots off the lead, to hold solo third place.
Yu Sung-po shot a 67 and Ian Peng a 68, both reaching a three-round total of 8-under 208, tied for fourth place, four shots behind the leader. Tsai Shang-kai carded a 70 for a total of 209, and still remains in contention for the title.
The only amateur to make the cut, Thailand’s Tantikorn Klinpeng, shot a 75 today for a three-round total of 218, currently tied for 43rd place.
Warun Ieamgaew had 31 putts today, significantly higher than yesterday’s 24, but noted that his accurate driving and iron play helped him produce a strong score and take the lead. He hit 9 fairways and 16 greens in regulation, with all five birdies coming from putts within 12 feet, along with one bogey.
He hopes to maintain his accuracy off the tee and with his irons tomorrow, improve his fairway and green hit percentages, and secure the victory. He previously won his first TPGA title in 2023 and finished 19th on last year’s Order of Merit.
Defending champion Su Chin-hung experienced a more fluctuating round today. He started strong with birdies on Holes 1 and 4 but encountered trouble on Hole 9, where a long second shot, a poor recovery, and a three-putt led to a double bogey. Another three-putt on the downhill green at Hole 10 resulted in a bogey. Fortunately, he recovered with birdies on Holes 13 and 15 to finish with a 71, just one stroke behind Warun.
After the round, Su said the wind was inconsistent and difficult to judge, and both his driving and putting were not as good as yesterday. His iron play remained solid. He played well on the front nine, but from Hole 9 onward, his rhythm was disrupted and mistakes increased. He focused on stability on the back nine and managed to limit the damage. He recorded 29 putts, hit 8 fairways, and 12 greens in regulation.
He added that after getting a good night’s sleep yesterday, his strength has gradually returned following his illness. For the final round, his main strategy is to keep the ball in the fairway and not overthink, doing his best and letting the result follow.
Lee Chieh-po had five birdies and two bogeys today. His driving and iron play were consistent and steady. A highlight came on Hole 14, where he made a 45-foot birdie putt. Two other birdies came from 12-foot putts. His putting is still being adjusted, but he improved to 28 putts, three fewer than yesterday. However, he felt his performance on 40–50 yard chip shots was not ideal this week, managing only one birdie on the four par-5 holes, which came on the final hole, Hole 18.
He hopes to hit his irons closer to the pin tomorrow to create more birdie opportunities, while maintaining patience in other aspects, especially putting, which he believes will be the key to victory.
Yu Sung-po recorded six birdies and one bogey, with solid putting at 27 putts. In addition to a birdie from a putt over 50 feet on Hole 14, he made birdie putts of 15 and 17 feet on Holes 1 and 11, respectively. On the par-3 13th hole, he chipped in from 5 yards in front of the green for birdie.
He said that as this is the first event of the year, he had not yet found his rhythm in the first two rounds, and his attacking strategy was not ideal, resulting in lower scores. Today, both his driving and iron play improved, and his putting began to settle. It was a pity that he only birdied one of the four par-5 holes (Hole 18), as poor positioning affected his chances on the other three. He also missed several birdie putts.
He plans to compete in Taiwan Tour events during breaks from the Japan Challenge Tour this year. He has earned a full card on the Japan Challenge Tour and will also be eligible for selected events on the Japan Golf Tour.
Ian Peng also putted well today with 27 putts, recording four birdies and no bogeys. Highlights included a 30-foot birdie putt on Hole 7 and a chip-in birdie from 15 yards on Hole 9. This is his first year earning full playing rights on the Taiwan Tour through qualifying school.
He made pars on all back-nine holes and did not add any more birdies. He felt his strategy was too conservative and plans to be more aggressive on approach shots tomorrow, hoping to achieve his best career finish.
The final round tomorrow will again feature a two-tee start from Holes 1 and 10. The first group will tee off at 6:30 a.m., and the final group at 7:55 a.m., with play expected to conclude around 1:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony.
This tournament is the opening event of the 2026 TPGA Taiwan Tour season, with a total prize purse of NT$3 million. The winner will receive NT$500,000, and the runner-up NT$250,000.
The tour is title-sponsored by Mr. Wong Chau-shi, Honorary Chairman of Mercuries Group. Chang Wah Group serves as the title sponsor for this event for the fifth consecutive year. The tournament is organized by TPGA and co-organized by Hsin Yi Golf Club, which also hosts the season-opening event for the fifth consecutive year.
Chang Wah Group, including Chang Wah Electromaterials Inc., Chang Wah Technology Co., Ltd., and E&R Engineering Corp., are all publicly listed companies. Chang Wah Electromaterials specializes in semiconductor packaging materials distribution, Chang Wah Technology manufactures lead frames, and E&R Engineering focuses on tape-based high-end flip-chip IC substrates.
Founded over 30 years ago, Chang Wah Group has long supported domestic sports and upholds the corporate value of giving back to society by leveraging its resources to promote golf, social welfare, and corporate social responsibility.
Since 2021, due to the pandemic’s impact on the number of events and total prize money on the Taiwan Tour, Mr. Wong Chau-shi has personally served as the title sponsor of the CHAU-SHI Series, funding six events annually with NT$2 million per event, totaling NT$12 million. This established a stable foundation for the tour. In recent years, the number of events has gradually increased, and this year the same sponsorship model continues, expanding to eight events.
The CHAU-SHI Series also features a special Order of Merit bonus. The top money winner across the eight events will receive an additional NT$250,000 bonus sponsored by Mr. Lin Guo-er, Chairman of HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD, along with entry into the Mercuries Taiwan Masters the following year.
Hsin Yi Golf Club measures 7,459 yards for this tournament. While long hitters may have an advantage, precision in landing areas on fairways and greens is essential, and both putting and short game around the greens remain key challenges. The course has been meticulously prepared to optimal conditions for this opening event.
Special prizes for this tournament include:
Hole-in-One Awards:
Holes 3 and 6 (OUT), Holes 4 and 8 (IN; Holes 13 and 17) – NT$20,000 course prize.
Hole 3 – Fila shoes (1 pair), Caesar Bathroom flagship smart toilet CA1392 (1 unit), 6 bottles of Buffalo Trace commemorative whiskey.
Hole 6 – Junyi Hotel weekday twin stay (1 night), 12 bottles of Buffalo Trace commemorative whiskey, and one 10-liter barrel of Buffalo Trace whiskey.
Hole 13 – E-Da Skylark Hotel garden suite (1 night), V PLUS U3 three-layer golf balls (20 dozen), and 6 bottles of Buffalo Trace commemorative whiskey.
Hole 17 – 6 bottles of Pierce 17-year whiskey and 6 bottles of Buffalo Trace commemorative whiskey.
The above four holes feature sponsor prizes originally set by the course.
Additionally, on Hole 17, Tung Hui Watch Co. offers a Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$130,000. It will be awarded to the first professional player to make a hole-in-one during the official four rounds.
Unlimited hole – Da An Group provides a complimentary one-night stay in the Presidential Suite at Lishan Guest House, valid on both weekdays and weekends.
Course Record Bonus: NT$20,000 (course-sponsored), with the record of 63 currently held by amateur Chen Chi-chun.
Pai Wei Group & Cheng Guan Yuan Driving Range provide free practice access for all participants during the tournament period (March 24–27).
During the final two rounds (March 27–28), the tournament will also provide free sports therapy services for players.
In response to global sustainability trends, TPGA has officially launched the “Green Swing Initiative” this year to promote environmental protection.
Single-use bottled water has been eliminated from the tournament. Instead, each player is provided with a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste at the source.
Spectators are allowed on the course during the tournament. A NT$30 insurance fee is required at the starter area to obtain a spectator pass. Spectators must walk along cart paths, as no shuttle service is provided between holes. For safety reasons, children under six years old and pets are not permitted on the course.
The final two rounds will be broadcast as highlight recordings on April 7 and April 8 at 4:00 p.m. Platforms include TPGA Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, LINE (Golfourit), TPGA official website, Videoland Sports, and Line Today.
