Taiwan Golf and Country Club in Tamsui, Taipei County, proved as difficult a prospect as ever with only 18 players managing to break par during the first round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday.
Udorn Duangdecha of Thailand made an eagle and five birdies on his way to a round of 65, leaving him on top of the leaerboard after the first day. Taiwan’s Chan Yih-shin (詹益信) was in second place after shooting 67, while Lu Chien-soon (盧建順) and Tsai Chi-huang (蔡啟煌) were tied for fourth after rounds of 69.
Although conditions were overcast it did not rain and all the competitors successfully completed the full 18 holes. Those who teed off earlier made lower scores with Duangdecha making birdies at the fifth and sixth and then an eagle at the seventh after holing a six-foot putt. He then made another three birdies on the back nine to give him the day’s best score.
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Defending champion, Lu Wen-teh (呂文德) of Taiwan bogeyed the fifteenth after he sliced his three iron and hit a tree. Lu later said that he should have been more conservative and have laid up with a four or five iron. Lu finished the day on 71, tied for tenth.
Despite being six strokes back, Lu said he would remain relaxed and focus on making steady progress over the next three days.
Chan said he just missed out on five birdie chances and that his score could have been much better. However, Chan said that he was still happy because it was the first time he had broken 70 at the event.
Tsai, who grew up playing at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club improved as his round progressed, making an eagle and five birdies after two initial bogeys.
Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang (林文堂) had a tough time gauging the speed of the greens and was tied for tenth after scoring a 71.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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