Taiwan’s Hsing Hsuan-Ho (邢宣和), an amateur appearing first time on the pro circuit, shot a 1-over 73 to lead the CTBC Ladies Open on Thursday. The seventeen-year-old came composed under an extremely windy condition, finished the round steadily with 36 on the front nine and 37 on the back nine, and co-led by two shots with compatriot Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) and Korean Min-Ji Nam.

 

While Typhoon Usagi is forecasted to interrupt play on the weekend with heavy rains, a bizarrely windy weather at the Sunrise Golf & Country Club already caused troubles on Day 1 of the NT$3 million event, and balls were seen moving on the blowing as players struggled to take control.

 

Hsing, a tour debutant born in Korea, moved to Taiwan at 5 and started her competitive golf trainings as a 12-year-old. She shot three birdies and four bogeys and carded with a 73. “I was just trying to avoid mistakes. It feels really good but also a bit surprising to actually see myself in the lead,” said Hsing.

 

Hsieh Yu-Ling is in the hunt for her fourth title on the TLPGA Tour following also a 1-over 73. She could have finished the day the only with an under-par score, however, her tee shot off 5-wood on par-3 16^th found the pond which gave her a penalty and in the end a double-bogey.

“It was not bad but it could’ve gone better,” said Hsieh. “My strategy was to make the best of the winds, going with its directions, and the end result was good.” When asked about the expected rains and even bigger winds in the coming days, she said, “it’s going to be difficult, that’s for sure, but everyone will be playing under the same conditions.”

 

The other one off to a good start was Min-Ji Nam. The Korea native hit three birdies, including one on par-5 13^th which was just inches short for an eagle, and four bogeys. Nam’s best TLPGT finish was a runner-up in 2011 Taifong Ladies Open, to then LPGA world no.1 Yani Tseng.

 

Defending champion Numa Gulyanamitta of Thailand shot a 6-over 78 and sits in T16.

 

The top three finishing Taiwanese players after all 54 holes will go on to compete in the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship with wildcards that takes place in the end of October.