Rookie and amateur share early lead at CTBC Ladies Open

TAIPEI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Rookie pro Tiffany Chan and amateur Hou Yu-chiang set the early pace at the CTBC Ladies Open on Thursday as each posted opening round scores of one-under 71 to share a one shot lead.

Pan Yanhong and Yu Pei-lin were a shot further back at even-par 72 at the tournament, a co-sanctioned event between the China LPGA Tour and the TLPGA Tour.

Local star Teresa Lu, a four-time winner in Japan this year, was equal fifth with teammate Tsai Pei-ying after carding rounds of one-over 73 in the windy conditions at Orient (Taipei) Golf and Country Club.

Chan, who finished second at the US LPGA Tour qualifying school earlier this month to earn her full playing card for next season, said the heavy wind blew up the scores today as it was difficult to get approach shots near the pins. Her round included four birdies and three bogeys.

"I didn't think too much about the result, I just tried to make the ball land in the fairway," said the 24-year-old Chan. "Tomorrow I will pay more attention to the wind, focus more and try to leave uphill putts for myself."

Hou, 17, was sitting at two-under through 17 holes and had a chance to be the clubhouse leader until she stumbled to a bogey six at the final hole. She credited her strong play to a good attitude and hitting all 14 fairways after going down two club lengths to combat the windy conditions.

After missing the cut in her first appearance at the CTBC Ladies Open in 2015, the teenager said she was just happy to be in contention this time around.

"On the 13th hole I saw the leaderboard and knew that I was tied for the lead. That got me a little excited, but I can't be too excited," she said.

Pan, a five-time winner on the CLPGA Tour, held it together in the wind to post a round featuring four birdies and four bogeys.

"In general, I am satisfied with the result today," said the former power-lifter from Hebei province.

"The wind is so strong that I even don't know how to count the distance."

Lu, who won the Tour Championship last month for her 16th career win in Japan, was playing in her first tournament at home this year and admittedly struggled in the wind.

"The wind is confusing, it is not blowing in the direction you think it is, so it's difficult to choose a correct club. This is the heaviest wind I have seen at an event for the whole year," said the 29-year-old newlywed who had her husband caddying for her.

"Actually, today is a lucky day. I made several long putts that were not supposed to get in the hole. Tomorrow I will try to avoid low-level mistakes."

Saranporn Langkulgasettrin, the CLPGA Tour Order of Merit leader, opened with a three-over 75 to sit four shots off the pace.

Orient (Taipei) Golf and Country Club is a 6,382-yard, par-72 layout designed by Ronald Fream.

CTBC Ladies Open first round leading scores (*denotes amateur):

71 - Tiffany Chan Tsz-ching (Hong Kong, China), Hou Yu-chiang (Chinese Taipei)

72 - Pan Yanhong (China), Yu Pei-lin (Chinese Taipei)

73 - Tsai Pei-ying (Chinese Taipei), Teresa Lu (Chinese Taipei)

74 - Tao Juanjuan (China), Budsabakorn Sukapan (Thailand), Tsai Hsin-en (Chinese Taipei), Huang Ching (Chinese Taipei), Min Lee (Chinese Taipei), Huang Hsien-wen (Chinese Taipei)

75 - Ploychompoo Wirairungrueng (Thailand), Hsin Yu-lu* (Chinese Taipei), Chen Yu-ju (Chinese Taipei), Chorphaka Jaengkit (Thailand), Saranporn Langkulgasettrin (Thailand), Parinda Phokan (Thailand). Enditem