Chen Ling-Jie (陳伶潔) took her third TLPGA victory today at the NT$5-million Party Golfers Ladies Open. The Taiwanese carded a final-round 70 to finish on 11-under 205.
Chen was also the winner in last year’s event. In fact, all three of her TLPGA Tour victories came right here at the Lily Golf & Country Club; she won the 36-hole YICHEN Heritage Tour in April with a winning total of 12-under 132.
“It’s an incredible feeling to come back and retain the title. Thank you to Party Golfers for these amazing four days. I would like to express my thanks again to all the event sponsors, my sponsors, my team, my mom and everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and believed in me,” Chen said.
The 36-hole leader faced her first real trouble on the third hole today where she left with a bogey and stepped down from the top of the leaderboard. However, the “Queen of Lily Club” soon figured out No.4 and 5 and picked up two consecutive birdies to snatch back the outright lead.
Despite going a little shaky around the turn, Chen was able to raise the level when needed and make birdies to compensate for the bogeys.
Chen struck an errant second shot way left into the bushes on the par-5 14th, but luckily she found the ball just in time and saved par. “That was a relief. I think that par was really important for my confidence down that final stretch,” Chen said, who later created a tap-in opportunity from 183 yards on the 17th. The birdie proved to be the winning difference.
Thailand’s Pakin Kawinkorn, after dropping a shot on the first hole, reeled off six birdies on Hole 2, 5, 6, 10, 14, and 16 to match Chen’s pace. However, she couldn’t conjure up miracles on the final two holes to settle for second place on 10-under 206.
“My putter felt great. I wasn’t quite looking at the score board and just trying to play my game. I’m really happy to take no.2, considering I was four shots behind into the day,” said Kawinkorn, who turned in a 67. “I was particularly happy with that birdie on the 16th. There was a significant break on the green. I watched for a good long time, putted, and then it just went exactly the way I expected it to go!”
Kawinkorn will travel south for the ISPS Handa Australian Open before coming back on the TLPGA Tour to compete at Taya Group Ladies Open on Dec 11.
Wang Li-Ning (王莉甯), the biggest mover on Day 2 when she rose 36 places into the top-10 after a 5-under 67, carded a 68 in the final round to finish in the top-3. She impressively made two eagles on the par-4 4th and par-5 14th. “My attacking mindset was rewarded. On those two holes, I believe I didn’t even have very difficult eagle putts to make. I set them up incredibly well,” Wang recalled.
Four-time TLPGA Tour winner in 2024, P. K. Kongkraphan finished in T3 on 8-under 208 with compatriots Wannasiri Sirisampant, Green Poruangrong, and Taiwanese Tseng Tsai-Ching (曾彩晴).
Teenager Lin Jie-En (林潔恩) took the low amateur honor after shooting a Friday 74, putting her in a tie for 47th on the final leaderboard on 220.
LPGA’s Epson Tour campaigner Pauline del Rosario wrapped it up in equal 8th on 7-under 209 as the highest standing Filipina, tying with Thai player Mim Sangkapong, who registered a low-round 66 on Friday.
The Party Golfers Ladies Open is a TLPGA Tour and Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) co-sanctioned tournament, and this is the sixteen such event since the two tours first collaborated in 2015. Prize money of the 54-hole event has been increased to NT$5 million from NT$4 million last year with China Airlines joining forces as main sponsors. The competition layout is set at 6,217 yards long and plays to a par score of 72.
The Party Golfers, an amateur golf team comprised of local entrepreneurs who share a never-fading passion for the golf sport, has been lending their sponsorship supports to the TLPGA since 2014, when the first Party Golfers Open was staged, giving the TLPGA Tour that final push to be accepted into the WWGR (World Women’s Golf Rankings) system.
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