Chien Pei-Yun (錢珮芸) heads the leaderboard after the rainy first round at the Taiwan Mobile Ladies Open. The LPGA Tour member fired seven birdies to register a 5-under 67, which is one shot clear of amateur player Chen Ling-Jie (陳伶潔).

Two-time winner this year, Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲), who triumphed at the SUNCITY Golf Camp Heritage Tour and the CTBC Ladies Open, sit in equal third place at 3-under with JLPGA member Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎) and Chang Hsuan-Ping (張瑄屏).

Teenager Wu Chia-Yen (吳佳晏) closed the day with three birdies on the last three holes to squeeze into a tie for sixth at 4-under with LPGA Tour player Hsu Wei-Ling (徐薇淩) and Shih Cheng-Hsuan (石澄璇). Defending champion Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒) registered a 71 to sit in T11 with Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉). “It is a special feeling to start as the previous winner, some added pressure, but I feel I’m playing well in the wet conditions, apart from a three-putting from six feet. I hope it’s going to get better in the next couple of days,” Lin said.

LPGA Tour campaigner Chien Pei-Yun made one bogey on each half of Wednesday’s first-round of the Taiwan Mobile Ladies Open, but racked up seven birdies in difficult scoring conditions to take the lead. She was caught in trouble when she hit past the 2nd green by eight yards but holed it out on the next shot to open her birdie count, which gave her an early confidence boost.

“It’s a tough day out there with the continual rain. You’ve got to produce enough yardage because the ball won’t roll as far. But if there is a puddle, there is a great chance you’re going to overhit it. The only good was that I had one less thing to worry about, I felt comfortable about my putting,” Chien said, who just returned from the LPGA Tour last month. “I put a lot of work on my putter since I came back to Taiwan, and I did feel like it helped with my performance today. I even felt like I left some birdies out there on the front nine. I’m feeling great.”

Hsieh Yu-Ling was the lone player to record a bogey-free round. “I was extremely careful in the wet conditions and tried not to make many mistakes. The draining system was functioning well, and credits to the course staff who kept the course in a rather nice shape to play on,” Hsieh said.

“I didn’t think there was anything I did particularly well, but I was patient enough for my opportunities and then I was able to grab them when they come.” Hsieh is aiming a record three victories in a single season after her wins at the Suncity Heritage Tour and the CTBC Open.

Hsu Wei-Ling is the highest-ranked Taiwanese player. Despite failing to take any chances on the par-5s, she earned her place in a tie for third with some impressive putting display from long distance.

Also tying in equal third was Tsai Pei-Ying, who was buoyed up by a pair of chip-ins. “It felt almost like I was awarded two free shots. That was lucky,” Tsai said. “The weather wasn’t great. I was trying to hit more aggressively, so that it might have a chance to go in. You won’t stand any chance if it went short, especially in these damp conditions.”

A two-shot penalty was given to Korea LPGA Tour player Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹), who locked her place already as the 2020 TLPGA Tour Money Winner, when she jumped on the cart to move to the 2nd tee.

The morning announcement was to let players going on the inward nine to use the carts to speed up the pace in the rain, but Chen mistakenly thought the rule applied all day. She needed just four shots on the par-5 1st hole but left a “6” on the scorecard.

The accident saw Chen lost her concentration as she arrived the turn on 3-over, but she rebounded quickly on the back nine to pick up four birdies and return to even-par, sitting in a tie for 13th.

2018 champion Lee Min (李旻) carded a 3-over 75 to sit in a tie for 36th. Former world no.1 Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) will need to work extra hard in the second round to avoid elimination after a first-round 77. A cut will be made to the top-50 and ties before Friday’s final round begins.

For more information on the 2020 Taiwan Mobile Ladies Open, please explore https://www.taiwanmobile.com/twmTLPGA2020/