2025 CHAU SHI Series Chang Wah Open

Round 2

March 27, 2025

The season-opening event of the 2025 TPGA Tour — the Chang Wah Open of the CHAU SHI Series — completed its second round today (March 27) at Hsin Yi Golf Club in Kaohsiung. Hung Chien-yao carded a four-under 68 to bring his two-day total to 135, nine under par, taking the solo lead. Hsieh Min-hsuan followed closely with a 67, sitting one shot back at 136 in solo second.

Six players — Taiwan’s Kao Teng, Yeh Yu-chen, and Shen Wei-cheng, along with Japan’s Kenta Endo, America’s Grant Godfrey, and the Philippines’ Aidric Jose Chan — are tied for third at seven-under 137 through two rounds.

At the conclusion of today’s round, 58 professional players with two-day totals of even-par 144 or better advanced to the final two rounds.

This event marks the TPGA Tour’s first tournament since officially joining the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system on January 5, launching a new era for the tour. It also kicks off this year’s CHAU SHI Series, which has expanded from eight events to ten since joining the TPGA schedule in 2021. The tournament features a NT$3 million total purse, with NT$500,000 awarded to the champion, and is contested over four rounds and 72 holes from March 26 to 29.

The tour is personally sponsored by Mr. Wong Chau-shi, Honorary Chairman of the Mercuries Group, with Chang Wah Group serving as the title sponsor for both this event and the season opener for the fourth consecutive year. The event is organized by TPGA and co-hosted by Hsin Yi Golf Club.

Leader Hung Chien-yao remained steady with five birdies and one bogey. His iron play was sharp, producing more birdie looks than yesterday, mostly within 6 to 12 feet. He hit 14 greens in regulation (one fewer than the previous day) and matched his previous total of 29 putts. His highlight came on the par-4 2nd, where his 60-degree wedge from 95 yards bounced off the flagstick, setting up a tap-in birdie.

“Today’s strategy was similar to yesterday’s,” Hung said. “But I didn’t feel quite as good mentally — maybe due to the still, humid weather. Fortunately, I stayed patient and took it one shot at a time. The result turned out okay.”

Hsieh Min-hsuan posted six birdies and one bogey. He said his iron play was even better than yesterday, giving him more birdie chances. He hit 14 greens (one more than yesterday) and putted with improved accuracy and pace, needing only 27 putts — three fewer than his first round. He holed three 13-footers for birdie and added multiple conversions from 6 to 9 feet. His best hole was also the par-4 2nd, where he hit a 97-yard approach to 9 feet and made the birdie putt.

Kao Teng carded a 67, with one eagle, five birdies, and two bogeys. On the par-5 8th, he hit a 270-yard second shot to the edge of the green and holed a 15-footer for eagle. He also chipped in a 20-yard birdie on the 16th and made birdie putts from 5 to 6 feet elsewhere. Although he hit 15 greens, he noted that his iron shots weren’t particularly accurate, often leaving longer birdie attempts. Still, he converted the key ones and finished with 30 putts, including three three-putts.

American Grant Godfrey also shot 67, making six birdies and one bogey. Starting from the 10th, he shot an even-par 36 on the front with one birdie and one bogey. On the back nine, his driving, irons, and especially his short game shone. On the 1st, his tee shot left him just 10 yards from the green, and he chipped to 2 feet for birdie. On the 3rd, he chipped in again from 10 yards. He then birdied four straight holes (1 through 4) and added a 30-foot birdie putt on the 9th. Godfrey was the top finisher at this year’s TPGA Qualifying Tournament.

Yeh Yu-chen fired a 68 with one eagle, four birdies, and two bogeys. Starting from the 10th, he had a slow start and bogeyed the 10th and 12th. His first birdie came on the par-5 18th. He bounced back on the front nine with sharp iron and wedge play — chipping in from 30 yards for birdie on the 2nd, making eagle from 12 feet on the par-5 4th, and adding birdies on the 5th (9 feet) and 8th (chip-and-putt). His 26 putts helped boost his round.

“I’ve spent the past year adjusting my swing,” Yeh said. “There’s still more work to do on balance and feel, but I’m hopeful things will keep improving.”

Philippines’ 24-year-old Aidric Jose Chan carded a 69 with five birdies and two bogeys. Despite accurate driving and iron play that produced numerous birdie chances inside 10 feet, he struggled on the greens.

“I couldn’t get the pace right today,” Chan said. “I missed a lot of birdie putts.” He finished with 31 putts, including three-putt bogeys on holes 6 and 9.

Chan turned pro in April last year and has already played 19 events across the Asian Tour, TPGA, PGT (Philippines), and ADT. He won his first ADT title just last week in Vietnam on March 25.

Japan’s Kenta Endo also shot a 67 with one eagle, five birdies, and two bogeys, leading the field with only 25 putts. He holed out for eagle from 6 yards off the green on the par-5 18th and made several birdie putts, including a 20-footer on the 17th and a 13-footer on the 14th, thanks to accurate irons and confident putting.

The tournament features a field of 144 players — 131 professionals and 13 amateurs — from seven countries, including 29 from Japan, 6 from Thailand, 2 from the U.S., and one each from Italy, Australia, and the Philippines, along with 104 from Taiwan.

The Chang Wah Group, which includes publicly listed companies Chang Wah Electromaterials, Chang Wah Technology, and JMC Electronics, supports the event for the fourth consecutive year. Their businesses range from semiconductor packaging materials distribution to lead frame manufacturing and high-end flip-chip tape substrate production.

With over 30 years of history, Chang Wah Group has consistently supported sports in Taiwan. Guided by the principle of giving back to society, the group continues to promote golf through corporate sponsorships and social responsibility initiatives.

The 2025 CHAU SHI Series has expanded to 10 events from last year’s eight, contributing to a record 29 tournaments on this year’s TPGA calendar, which includes 20 main tour events and 9 ThreeBond Challenge Tour events — the highest number in the TPGA’s 32-year history since 1993.

The CHAU SHI Series also offers a special Order of Merit prize: the top money winner will receive an additional NT$200,000 from Honlin Construction Chairman Lin Kuo-er and a guaranteed entry into the following year’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Hsin Yi Golf Club, which measures 7,459 yards, favors long hitters. The putting surfaces and short-game areas remain key challenges. The course has been specially prepared for peak condition to showcase players’ best performances.

Special Awards:

• Hole-in-One Prizes:

  1. Holes 3 & 6 (OUT) and holes 4 & 8 (IN) — NT$20,000 and relevant gifts offered by Hsin Yi Golf Club.

  2. Hole 17 — A Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$168,000 provided by Tung Hui Watch Co., awarded to the first professional to record a hole-in-one during the four official rounds.

  3. Any hole, unlimited winners — Da An Group is offering a free one-night stay in the Presidential Suite of Lishan Guesthouse, valid on any date.

• Course Record Bonus: Breaking the course record of 63 (held by Chen Chi-chun) earns NT$20,000, courtesy of Hsin Yi Golf Club.

Both-well Group and Cheng Guan Yuan Golf Range are providing unlimited free driving range access for all players from March 25 to 28.

An Athlete Care Station will be available during the final two rounds, offering free physiotherapy, protection services, and muscle relief massages to players.

Spectators are welcome throughout the tournament. Entry requires a NT$30 facility and cleaning fee at the course entrance, along with registration to obtain a viewing pass. Spectators must stay on cart paths, and no shuttles are provided between holes. For safety reasons, children under six and pets are not advised to enter the course.

Highlights of the final two rounds will be broadcast on April 8 and 9 at 4 PM. Coverage will be available on TPGA’s Facebook page, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, LINE’s Golfourit platform, TPGA’s official website, ELTA Sports, Line Today, and Golf Media’s digital signage network, which streams content across 20 golf courses nationwide.