Go stumbles late as Wu snatches Taiwan Open crown

The Philippines’ Lloyd Jefferson Go plays a shot during the second round of China Open Golf tournament in Shenzhen, in southern China’s Guangdong province on May 3, 2024.

AFP / China Out

MANILA, Philippines — Lloyd Go faltered at the finish, closing with a double bogey for a 74 and sliding into a tie for 19th in the Taiwan Open, won by Thai ace Ekpharit Wu at Taifong Golf Club in Chinese Taipei on Sunday.

After surging into joint seventh with a solid 67 on Saturday, Go struggled with his putter throughout the final round, squandering birdie opportunities early and stumbling with a three-putt for a 7 on the par-5 18th. He earlier birdied the 17th, offsetting his bogey on No. 14, but his touch on the greens ultimately abandoned him.

Go needed 31 putts in the final round, a far cry from his impressive 24-putt performance in the third round, and finished with a 283 total.

Sean Ramos, meanwhile, carded a 70 to end up tied for 42nd at 289.

Wu completed his comeback with a closing 67, highlighted by a four-under 32 on the front nine, to overtake overnight leader Hung Chien-yao and seal the championship with a 20-under 268 total.

Hung, who appeared poised for a commanding win after back-to-back 65s in the middle rounds, matched Wu’s frontside surge but faltered late, bogeying Nos. 15 and 16 to surrender the lead. He settled for a 70 and a 270 aggregate.

Guatemala’s Jose Toledo mounted a final-round charge with a 65 to tie Sweden’s Charlie Lindh, who shot a 71, for third at 276.

For Go, it was a disappointing finish. He hit just five fairways and 11 greens – numbers that mirrored his struggles earlier in the week – but it was his putting that ultimately let him down, punctuated by that costly three-putt on the final hole.