Hung Chien-yao produced a timely breakthrough round when he needed it most, carding a seven-under-par 65 to seize the first-round lead at the US$400,000 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open on Thursday, November 13.

With his 2026 Asian Tour card on the line, the 33-year-old local ace found form at just the right time, rediscovering his touch at Taifong Golf Club — the same course where he won the 2022 edition when it was part of the Asian Development Tour.

Hung finds form when it matters most

Hung, who has held Asian Tour membership for 12 consecutive seasons, entered the week ranked 110th in the Order of Merit after missing seven cuts in 11 starts. Facing the threat of losing his playing rights, he responded with precision, firing 13 birdies and making clutch putts from the 9-to-15-foot range.

He leads Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai by two strokes after the Thai standout posted a 67 before play was halted at 5:22 p.m. due to darkness. The remaining players will complete their opening rounds early Friday before Round 2 begins as scheduled.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang, Thailand’s Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, Korea’s Wooyoung Cho, and Pakistan’s Ahmad Baig all turned in matching 68s to share third place.

Long putter switch pays off

Hung credited his improved putting for the turnaround, revealing he switched to a long putter a month ago after months of frustration. The adjustment paid dividends, as he rolled in confident strokes throughout the day.

“I already knew it would be difficult to keep my card this year,” Hung said. “A win this week would make all the difference, but I’m not thinking too much about it. I just want to play my best.”

After battling illness last week in Singapore, where he finished tied for 37th, Hung said he was feeling better this week thanks to his caddie’s help and renewed confidence. “My iron play was good today, and the putting was pretty solid. I made everything between nine and fifteen feet.”

Poosit, meanwhile, stayed within striking distance after a composed round highlighted by a chip-in on the par-three 12th hole and a 15-foot birdie on No. 6. “We were lucky it wasn’t windy. I hit a lot of fairways and made some solid putts,” said the 32-year-old Thai.

Chang, recipient of the Asian Tour’s inaugural Kyi Hla Han Future Champions Award, continued his promising run with a 68, boosted by late birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. Ranked 75th in the Order of Merit, he remains optimistic about maintaining his positive stretch after top finishes in Macao and Hong Kong.

The 18th leg of the Asian Tour season, the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is a crucial stop for players battling to retain their cards, with just three events remaining on the 2025 schedule.