Defending champion Miyu Yamashita holds a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the LPGA Tour’s Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur. The defending champion recorded a five-under 67 on Saturday to reach an 18-under-par total of 198 after 54 holes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.
Chasing Pack and Standout Rounds
China’s Yan Liu posted the standout round of Saturday with a 63, featuring an eagle, nine birdies, and two bogeys, to share second place at 16-under par. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who held the lead after the opening round, also shot a 67 to join Yan in a tie for second. Yan expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I think my swing is in very good position and my putting [was] on fire today. Yeah, really happy for my putter, and I hope tomorrow it’s [the] same.”
English Contenders and Championship Context
Charley Hull shot a 72 to sit at nine-under par and tied for 18th place, while her compatriot Lottie Woad carded a strong 65 to move up to 10-under par, eight shots behind the leader. Meanwhile, fellow Japanese player Yuri Yoshida triumphed at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea the previous week, making her the fourth Japanese winner on the LPGA Tour this season alongside Yamashita, Shiho Kuwaki, and Yuna Nishimura. Yoshida carded a 66 on Saturday to finish her tournament at 11-under par overall.
Yamashita triumphed at the Malaysian tournament through a three-way playoff last year and aims to successfully defend a title for the first time on Sunday. The LPGA Tour’s four-week Asian swing concludes next week with the Toto Japan Classic held in Omitama, near Tokyo.
