September 18: Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena withstood brutal wind gusts of up to 50kmph at Linkou International Golf and Country Club to post a four-under-par round of 68 and take the clubhouse lead after Thursday’s morning session of the US$1 million Yeangder TPC.

Tabuena, a house guest of his good friend Chan Shih-chang for the two back-to-back events in Taiwan, made six birdies in tough scoring conditions to pull ahead of a pack of five players at 69.

That group was led by the Chinese Taipei duo of Chen Yi-tong, whose round included two eagles, and Wang Wei-hsuan, Hong Kong’s Matthew Cheung, and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and Witchayapat Sinsrang.

Local amateur Hsieh Cheng-wei, who holds the record of being the youngest player to make the cut in an Asian Tour event (14 years and 33 days) in the 2022 edition of the tournament, delighted the home crowd with a 70 start. Japan’s Takumi Murakami, Australia’s Brett Rankin, India’s Yuvraj Singh Sandhu and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin also finished on 70.

Chen Yi-tong of of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Tabuena, seventh in the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year and 28th this season, is looking for his first win since the 2023 DGC Open in India. He has also finished as a runner-up in Taiwan on four occasions and is looking to go one step better this year.

“It was tricky. It wasn’t the easiest considering the winds were a bit gusty. It’s nice to post a score like that again after a long time. I know the game is there. I just haven’t been able to have the reps of tournament. And it’s nice that it’s coming along in time for what will be a very busy schedule,” said the three-time Asian Tour champ.

“I have been coming here since 2011, so I feel pretty familiar with these tough conditions in Taiwan. Probably, that is why I felt a bit comfortable out there. The greens are also a bit trickier this year, so it will be a case of whoever is the most patient at the end of the week. It won’t be an easy week, and you just have to grind it out.

“I’ve had a handful of second, third place finishes here, and I hope that is to my advantage. But the Asian Tour is getting stronger and stronger, and it’s always nice to have your best game against these players in this long stretch of events.”

Hsieh, Cheng-wei of Chinese Taipei. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Chen started his round from the 10th tee and finished it in some style.

One-over at the turn, he rolled in a 30-footer for eagle on the par-5 first hole to get into the red numbers and then closed with a holed second shot from 138 yards on the par-4 ninth.

Hsieh, 17, is playing only his fifth professional tournament, but showed once again that he can mix with the big boys. A bogey late in the round was his only blemish in a round that included three birdies.

Taking time out from his school studies this week, Hsieh said: “I was surprised to be the youngest player to make the cut on the Asian Tour a few years back. I thought it was a very good experience for me, but I did not think that was the only time I would make the cut here!

“I think I’ve become a better player now. With my current distances, I feel like I’m able to compete with the big boys. Last time, my technique wasn’t as good as the rest. I think I can compete out here. I just need to show it in the tournament.”