Chan Shih-chang wins golf title by one stroke after three-year drought

Chan Shih-chang has ended a nearly three-year title drought, clinching the Top Golf Tour championship by a single stroke at the Taichung International Golf Club. The Taiwanese golfer battled through pressure and a lingering shoulder injury to secure his first victory since July 2023.

"It's been a long time since I won a championship, and standing on the podium feels a bit unfamiliar," Chan remarked after his final round 69, which brought his total score to 19-under par 269. The win, worth NT$1 million (approximately $31,000 USD), marks a significant return to form for the 30-year-old.

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It's been a long time since I won a championship, and standing on the podium feels a bit unfamiliar.

Chan admitted to facing psychological pressure over the past two years, finding solace and a shift in mindset through his young daughter. The shoulder injury sustained earlier this year also led to fluctuating performance, but he persevered, aiming to stay in a competitive mindset. He reported his shoulder is now 80-90% recovered, fueling his optimism for future tournaments.

Last year's champion, Wang Wei-hsuan, and Japan's Kosuke Hamamoto tied for second place at 270. Riku Niizato of Japan, who led by one stroke after 17 holes, faltered on the final hole with a double bogey, dropping to fourth place at 271.

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The shoulder injury earlier this year also led to fluctuating performance, but I still insisted on staying in the competition atmosphere as much as possible. Now the shoulder injury is finally 80 to 90 percent healed, and I am very happy to win the championship again today, and I look forward to the injury being fully healed and performing well in the upcoming consecutive ADT events in Taiwan.