Local hero Hung Chien-yao showcased his mastery of Taifong Golf Club with a second straight seven-under par 65 on Friday, November 14, to increase his lead to five shots at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open. The 33-year-old reached 14-under par for 36 holes, setting himself apart from the field. Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai and Ekpharit Wu were the closest challengers, sitting at -9 and -8, respectively.

Hung’s round was bogey-free and marked by a blistering start of three consecutive birdies in the opening holes. His playing partners, Soomin Lee and Shinichi Mizuno, even joked that not even Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods could match his form at Taifong. The victory hopes for the 2022 Asian Development Tour winner were bolstered by his intimate knowledge of the course.

Hung rides momentum and course expertise

“I thought I didn’t play as well as yesterday, but the momentum carried me through,” Hung said. He described feeling slightly weak late in the round but quickly recovered with a banana and water. Hung highlighted the importance of course strategy, balancing aggressive shots with smart, safe plays.

The leader credited confidence gained from previous wins at Taifong Golf Club and emphasized that a bit of luck is always part of securing a victory. His composed play has left the competition scrambling to catch up, particularly as he keeps firing low scores.

Challengers eye breakthrough performances

Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai started from the 10th tee and compiled three birdies in four holes on the front nine. He has struggled this season but carried confidence from his tied 37th finish at the Moutai Singapore Open, hoping to convert iron accuracy into a strong result.

Ekpharit Wu, also starting from the 10th tee, was two-under at the turn and recorded four birdies over five holes between the third and seventh. The 26-year-old is seeking a top-five finish to retain his Asian Tour card in his first full year on the circuit. Both challengers aim to close the gap on Hung, who continues to impress with flawless execution.

Other notable players tied for fourth at six-under included Jonathan Wijono, Todd Sinnott, Charlie Lindh, Ahmad Baig, and Sarut Vongchaisit. India’s S Chikarangappa climbed to -5, joining Thai duo Charng-Tai Sudsom and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan.

The Taiwan Glass Taifong Open is the 18th leg of the Asian Tour 2025 season, with three events remaining on the calendar.