Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Mardan Mamat of Singapore, and Zhang Lian-wei of China are tied for the lead after the first round of the 2025 Fubon Senior Open, each shooting a 2-under-par 70. Defending champion Thammanoon Sriroj from Thailand and Taiwan’s Chou Hung-nan trail by one stroke with scores of 71.
Players took advantage of improved weather conditions following several days of rain. Mamat had three birdies and no bogeys through 17 holes but finished with a bogey on the last hole after his tee shot landed under trees. “But that’s fair for every player,” said Mamat regarding changes to the greens made by the course superintendent.
Zhang Lian-wei recorded four birdies and two bogeys in his round. He commented on the difficulty caused by long rough around the greens due to recent rain. Zhang praised Taiwan’s golfing environment and highlighted Fubon’s ongoing support: “That this tournament is all about heritage. I think the fact that Fubon has sponsored and supported this tournament for 23 straight years is quite remarkable!”
Marksaeng started strong with three birdies on the front nine but dropped a shot at the 12th hole after three-putting from ten feet. Marksaeng recently won an event in Fukuoka on Japan’s senior tour before arriving in Taipei.
Among Taiwanese players, Chou Hung-nan was notable for finishing with a 71 despite missing several greens in regulation, compensating with effective chipping. “If the weather permits in the next two rounds, I’d like to go for more birdies at the par-5 holes,” said Chou.
Other local competitors include Chen Ming-qi, Chang Tse-peng, and Yeh Wei-tze, who are tied for tenth place at 73 strokes each. Two-time Fubon Senior Open winner Lu Chien-soon is among those tied for sixteenth at 74 along with past champions Tsai Chi-huang (2022) and Thaworn Wiratchant (2023).
Sriroj experienced five birdies but also four bogeys as he struggled with his driver and putter during his round. He stated that misjudging wind conditions affected his performance: Sriroj said misjudging the wind had cost him dearly today, and he hopes to correct his mistakes in the next two rounds.
After tomorrow's second round, only the top sixty players (including ties) will advance to compete in Thursday's final round on October 31st. The super senior competition will also begin tomorrow; Taiwan’s Chung Chun-hsing will attempt to defend his title.
Admission remains free throughout the event at TGCC, where fans can attend or follow live coverage via Fubon's official YouTube channel or through updates on the Taiwan Senior Professional Golf Association Facebook page.