Golf: Dark Horse Ho Yu-cheng's Eagle Lifts Him to Third Pro Title

Ho Yu-cheng emerged as a surprise champion at the 2026 Zhaoxi Dengfeng Tour-Mizuno Open, clinching his third professional career title with a stunning final round performance. The 29-year-old Taiwanese golfer carded a career-best 64, featuring an eagle and six birdies, to finish at 13 under par over four rounds, securing the championship and a prize of NT$500,000.

Ho's remarkable comeback was ignited on the third hole when his 152-yard shot with a 9-iron landed directly in the hole for an eagle. This spectacular play propelled his momentum, leading to further birdies on holes 5, 7, 8, and 9. By the turn, he had posted a 30 on the front nine, propelling him into the lead. Despite initially aiming to break the course's single-round record of 62, Ho found himself in contention for the overall win.

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At this point, I started to feel like I had a chance to win.

"At this point, I started to feel like I had a chance to win," Ho reflected after his round. He continued to play with a calm mindset on the back nine, adding another birdie on the 14th hole to extend his lead to two strokes. A crucial par save on the 17th hole, sinking a 21-foot putt, and a delicate 38-yard chip on the 18th for a tap-in birdie sealed his victory. His exceptional putting, with 24 putts in total, was a key factor in his success.

This victory marks a significant milestone for Ho, who won his first tour title in 2022. After focusing on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in recent years, including a win in Malaysia in 2023, he struggled with a fear of failure that hampered his progress. Seeking help from a sports psychologist, Ho has now broken through this mental barrier, celebrating his first win in three years and regaining his confidence on the professional circuit.

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Today's putting saved many shots, which gave me the opportunity to win.