Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao fired a brilliant five-under-par 66 to come from five shots behind and claim a two-stroke victory at the US$120,000 Ambassador ADT Open at Taipei Golf Club.

Hung began Friday’s final round tied for ninth on one-over-par but produced the lowest score of the day to finish on four-under-par 280, completing a remarkable climb through the field after rounds of 72, 73 and 69 this week.

The victory came after a dramatic final day which saw overnight leader Chan Shih-chang surrender a three-shot advantage, while Hung surged through the field with a closing round featuring an eagle and four birdies against a solitary bogey.

Hung admitted victory was far from his thoughts when he teed off in the fourth-last group.

“I wasn’t really thinking I was going to win,” he said. “This is one of the most challenging golf courses in Taiwan. My wife is a professional golfer and she reminded me that on this course, if you can make par, you have a lot of chances. You don’t have to think about making birdie all the time.”

That patient approach paid dividends before Hung’s outlook changed when he checked the leaderboard with three holes remaining and realised the title was within reach.

At the par-five 16th, he switched to a more aggressive strategy and was rewarded with a decisive eagle. After finding the fairway with his drive, Hung had 256 yards to the pin and struck a five-wood that landed around 30 yards short of the flag before bounding onto the green and finishing just two feet from the hole.

“I saw the leaderboard and going into 16 I changed my plan,” he said. “I wanted to go for it and be a little more aggressive, which I did, and I’m very happy for it.”

Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei pictured in action during Round Four of the Ambassador ADT Open at Taipei Golf Club. The US$120,000 ADT event is held from July 14-17, 2026.

The victory carried particular significance for the 34-year-old, who admitted he had recently questioned whether he could continue competing successfully against the emerging generation of younger professionals.

“I’ve been a professional for about 14 years and I thought maybe I’m getting kind of old and I can’t really compete with the younger players,” he said. “But this win means a lot to me. It makes me think I’m still young and I can still compete in the game. Maybe I have another 10 or 20 years of golf to play.”

Hung also thanked his sponsors and family, reserving special appreciation for his wife and young child after claiming a title on home soil.

Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong and Chinese Taipei duo Wang Wei-hsuan and Su Ching-hung shared second place on two-under-par 282. Runchanapong and Wang both closed with three-under-par 68s, while Su signed for a 70.

Wang made his move through the field without realising how close he was to the lead, having deliberately avoided looking at the leaderboard.

“I didn’t see a scoreboard,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about the score. I just wanted to enjoy the game.”

The Chinese Taipei player said his driving had been a strength throughout the week but found the grainy greens and surrounding areas difficult. He made equipment adjustments ahead of the final round, changing both his wedge grind and putter, and felt the changes contributed to his closing 68.

Wang, who also played well during the closing stages of last week’s Ever Glory ADT Open, said his confidence was continuing to grow ahead of next week’s HCT ADT Open.

“I’m pretty confident with my swing right now,” he said. “If I’m in position, I think I can win maybe next week.”

He also credited his wife, Cindy Zhou, who was on the bag during the tournament. Zhou played college golf in the United States, and Wang said her experience had been particularly valuable in helping him with the mental side of his game.
“It’s really good, it’s really fun and we work very well together,” he said. “She can help me, especially with my mental game. I can feel more free.”

Italy’s Michele Ortolani and Chinese Taipei’s Wen Cheng-hsiang shared fifth place on one-under-par 283 after matching final rounds of 69.

Malaysia’s Khavish Varadan and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wei also closed with 69s to share seventh place on even-par 284 with overnight leader Chan, whose hopes of victory faded with a final-round 75.

The final day also produced the fourth hole-in-one of an event that had already seen three aces at the 151-yard 18th during Tuesday’s opening round. Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Ting-wei added his name to the list with an eight-iron at the 180-yard par-three fourth on his way to a closing 71.

The Ambassador ADT Open was the ninth event of the 2026 Asian Development Tour season and the second of three consecutive US$120,000 tournaments in Chinese Taipei, following last week’s Ever Glory ADT Open. The swing concludes next week with the HCT ADT Open at Hsin Feng Golf Country Club from July 21-24.

Five-time Asian Tour winner Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei will take a commanding three-shot lead into the final round of the US$120,000 Ambassador ADT Open after maintaining his composure on another demanding day at Taipei Golf Club.

Chan followed his second-round 67 with an even-par 71 to reach four-under-par 209, extending his overnight advantage as none of his nearest challengers were able to make significant inroads on a layout that has continued to test every aspect of the players’ games.

The tournament is the ninth event of the 2026 Asian Development Tour season and the second of three consecutive tournaments in Chinese Taipei, following last week’s Ever Glory ADT Open. The Taiwan swing concludes next week with the US$120,000 HCT ADT Open at Hsin Feng Golf Country Club.

Chinese Taipei duo Lu Wei-chih and Shen Wei-cheng, compatriot Su Ching-hung and Korea’s Minhyeok Yang share second place on one-under-par 212.

Chan said the shifting wind proved one of the biggest challenges of the day, making club selection difficult as the breeze changed direction across the course. Although he admitted his driving was not at its best, particularly on the par fives, he relied on his putting to preserve his lead.

Looking ahead to Friday’s final round, Chan said his focus would remain on finding fairways and greens, adding that patience would again be the key to scoring well at Taipei Golf Club.

Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei pictured in action during Round Three of the Ambassador ADT Open at Taipei Golf Club. The US$120,000 ADT event is held from July 14-17, 2026

Lu produced one of the best rounds of the day with a three-under-par 68, recovering from a front-nine bogey to surge into contention with four birdies after the turn.

He said his iron play had not produced enough birdie opportunities early in the round, but he found his rhythm on the back nine with three consecutive birdies from the 12th. A 36-foot birdie putt at the 12th sparked the run before he added birdies from nine feet at the 13th and five feet at the 14th. Another five-foot birdie at the 16th completed his charge.

Lu said patience remained essential because of the oppressive heat and the difficult grain on the greens, adding that he hoped to give himself more birdie chances in the final round by hitting approach shots closer to the hole.

Yang carded a bogey-free two-under-par 69 to join the group in second despite describing his driving as inconsistent throughout the day.

Minhyeok Yang of Korea pictured in action during Round Three of the Ambassador ADT Open at Taipei Golf Club. The US$120,000 ADT event is held from July 14-17, 2026

“My driver was really bad today,” he said. “But my chipping and up-and-downs were probably the best part of my game.”

Like many players this week, Yang said the greens remained the course’s greatest defence.

“Every day they’re different,” he said. “Sometimes they’re slow, sometimes they feel quicker. Chipping is easier than putting.”

The demanding nature of Taipei Golf Club was reflected in the cut, with 66 players from the starting field of 144 advancing to the weekend after the cut fell at six-over-par 148.

Chinese Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai shared sixth place on even-par 213 alongside Japan’s Ryo Noro. Wen Cheng-hsiang of Chinese Taipei produced the low round of the day with a five-under-par 66, climbing into a share of ninth on one over after holing out for eagle at the par-four 14th. He was joined on 214 by compatriots Hung Chien-yao, Wang Wei-hsuan and Yang Hsiao-che, Italy’s Michele Ortolani, Thailand’s Witchayapat Sinsrang and Runchanapong Youprayong and Japan’s Shori Ishizuka.

Former Asian Tour champion Chan Shih-chang of Chinese Taipei carded a four-under-par 67 to take a one-shot halfway lead at the Ambassador ADT Open, where patience and a polished short game continued to prove the keys to success on the demanding Taipei Golf Club layout.

Chan moved to four-under-par 138 after producing the joint lowest round of the day, one stroke clear of compatriot Shen Wei-cheng, who battled through physical discomfort to card a three-under 68.

The experienced Chan, a five-time Asian Tour winner and six-time Asian Development Tour champion, credited his short game after needing just 23 putts during a round highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 16th, where he holed a 58-degree wedge from 42 yards.

Knowing how difficult the greens had played throughout the opening two rounds, Chan said he focused on leaving himself straightforward chips and converting one-chip, one-putt pars whenever possible.

Shen admitted his second round became a battle after he began feeling weak midway through the inward nine.

Shen, Wei-cheng of Chinese Taipei pictured in action on July 15, 2026, during Round Two of the Ambassador ADT Open played at Taipei Golf Club, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Despite struggling physically, the Chinese Taipei player concentrated on finding fairways and the middle of the greens rather than chasing birdies, limiting mistakes to remain firmly in contention.

Defending Ever Glory ADT Open champion Nathan Han of the United States and Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin shared third place on two-under-par 140 after rounds of 70 and 71 respectively.

Han said patience had been his greatest ally during two demanding days on a course where even short putts had become a challenge.

“It’s been a battle these past few days,” said Han. “The scores are high and the course is playing very hard, so it’s really easy to get frustrated. I feel like I’ve been doing a good job staying patient.”

He added that the greens had tested every player in the field.

“A lot of short putts are being missed. Everyone’s going to miss short putts, it’s just how it is. As long as you keep hitting good putts, that’s all you can really do.”

Nathan Han of the USA pictured in action on July 15, 2026, during Round Two of the Ambassador ADT Open played at Taipei Golf Club, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Shahriffuddin, who shared the overnight lead, recovered from an early stumble to remain well placed entering the weekend.

“This golf course is very mental and very tough from the tee,” he said. “The greens are also very tough, so I just tried to keep my ball in play.”

One of his best recoveries came at the 12th after finding trouble off the tee, eventually limiting the damage with an excellent recovery that saved valuable strokes.

India’s Kartik Singh and Chinese Taipei’s Su Ching-hung shared fifth place on one-under-par 141 after rounds of 69, alongside Singapore’s James Leow, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wei and overnight leader Ryo Noro of Japan, who slipped back after a second-round 73.

Australia’s Darcy Brereton matched Chan’s 67 to produce one of the rounds of the day, climbing into a share of 10th at even-par 142 with Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong and Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan and Yang Hsiao-che, and Japan’s Shori Ishizuka.

Japan’s Ryo Noro and Nobuaki Oda carded matching three-under-par 68s to share the opening-round lead as Taipei Golf Club proved a much sterner test than last week’s birdie-fest at the Ever Glory ADT Open.

Only 12 players finished under par on the opening day of the US$120,000 Asian Development Tour event, with Malaysia’s Shahriffuddin Ariffin, Japan’s Shapiyate Mako and Chinese Taipei’s Yang Hsiao-che a shot further back after rounds of 69.

Noro carded a bogey-free 68 and said his driving and approach play were the strongest parts of his game, while describing his putting as only average. He also noted that the greens were slow and difficult to read, although the fine weather and light breeze helped produce a good score.

Compatriot Oda also pointed to the challenge of the greens after posting a round featuring six birdies and three bogeys. Two hole-outs, from about 10 yards and around 30 yards, proved pivotal, while he needed just 22 putts. He also identified the stretch from the 10th through the 12th as among the toughest on the course because of the narrow fairways.

Ariffin recovered from an adventurous opening round to earn a share of third. Starting from the 10th tee, the Malaysian mixed six birdies with four bogeys and a double bogey.

“I hit the ball really well today,” said Ariffin. “I got off to a really good start, chipped in early and managed to take advantage of the par fives.”

Ryo Noro of Japan pictured in action on July 14, 2026, during Round One of the Ambassador ADT Open played at Taipei Golf Club, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

He also highlighted the challenge presented by Taipei Golf Club’s greens.

“They’re tough. They’re very grainy, so you really have to know where to miss it.”

Last week’s Ever Glory ADT Open champion Nathan Han of the United States was among a group of seven players tied for sixth on one under after opening with a 70. Joining him were Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wei, Lu Wei-chih and Chang Wei-lun, Thailand’s Nirun Sae-Ueng and Singapore’s James Leow.

The opening round also produced the unusual sight of three holes-in-one, all coming at the 151-yard par-three 18th.

Japan’s Shori Ishizuka, who ended the day in a share of 13th after a 71, joined Malaysia’s Justin Chan (72) and Macau’s Kelvin Si in acing the hole. For Si, who turned professional at the start of 2024, it was the first hole-in-one of his career.