Thailand’s 17-year-old amateur sensation Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul delivered a composed performance to top the leaderboard at the Maybank Championship 2025 ASEAN Qualifier, securing her place in October’s LPGA Tour event at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course.
After opening with a 67 that featured a spectacular hole-in-one, Kritchanya closed with a steady 70 for a two-day total of seven-under-par 137. Her victory capped a dominant showing by Thai players, who claimed all five qualifying spots on offer.
The champion – Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul, an amateur golfer from Thailand
“I’m very happy I have qualified to play in the Maybank Championship on the LPGA Tour. It means a lot to me. It’ll be my first professional tournament outside of Thailand. I hope I can play as well in October as I did over the past two days in front of my Malaysian friends,” said Kritchanya.
Fellow Thai amateur Achiraya Sriwong, posted the day’s low round of 67 to finish solo second on 139, just two shots back. Namo Luangnitikul placed third with an even-par total of 144 following a second-round 71, while Cholcheva Wongras and Kan Bunnabodee shared fourth after rounds of 71 and 72, respectively. All five are eager to compete alongside the world’s best, including compatriot and current World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul.
The Malaysian challenge came agonisingly close. Ng Jing Xuen (70) and professional Genevieve Ling (74) tied for sixth, one shot shy of qualifying.
“I’m grateful for the privilege to play in an LPGA setting. It was just a bummer I didn’t do well on my back nine yesterday. Other than that, I felt my game was trending unlike last year. That’s the progress I’m proud of and I know eventually if it’s my time, then it’ll be my time. Mentally, maybe there was too much expectation, and I didn’t play the way I wanted to. I have to learn from this,” said Ng, who is hoping for a sponsor’s invite, though she admits it is unlikely.
Ng Jing Xuen of Malaysia
Ling, meanwhile, rued missed chances on the greens. “I kind of stayed in my own space and kept fighting till the last hole. Unfortunately, a few birdie putts and chips just shaved by the holes. This is golf. On the first hole, my ball plugged in the bunker and I saved bogey, and then I hit a bad drive on the second hole and made double bogey there,” she said.
Maybank also unveiled a new incentive – the highest-finishing ASEAN Invite at this year’s championship will receive a start at one of the 2026 Epson Tour events in the United States, providing a rare pathway to the LPGA’s official development circuit.
Now in its third edition, the US$3 million Maybank Championship is Asia’s richest golf tournament and has already drawn the sport’s elite, including former and current World No. 1s Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, as well as major winners Grace Kim and Ayaka Furue. Past champions include France’s Celine Boutier and China’s Ruoning Yin, both of whom lifted the iconic Tiger Trophy with memorable victories.
Genevieve Ling of Malaysia
Results
1 Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul (a) 67 70 137 -7
2 Achiraya Sriwong (a) 72 67 139 -5
3 Namo Luangnitikul (a) 73 71 144 Par
4 Cholcheva Wongras 75 71 146 +2
4 Kan Bunnabodee 74 72 146 +2
6 Ng Jing Xuen 77 70 147 +3
6 Genevieve Ling 73 74 147 +3
8 Aloysa Atienza 80 69 149 +5
8 Pang Hee Jie (a) 75 74 149 +5
8 Aretha Pan 73 76 149 +5
11 Meva Schmit 80 70 150 +6
11 Siti Zulaikhaa Shaari 78 72 150 +6
11 Waraporn Wimonwan (a) 78 72 150 +6
11 Natachanok Tunwannarux (a) 77 73 150 +6
11 Dussavi Soopimjit 76 74 150 +6
11 Kristina Yoko 75 75 150 +6
11 Onkanok Soisuwan 74 76 150 +6
18 Winnie Ng 79 72 151 +7
18 Suritpreeya Pruksanubal (a) 78 73 151 +7
18 Liyana Durisic 77 74 151 +7
18 Ida Ayu Indira Melati 76 75 151 +7
18 Thitapa Pakdeesettakul 74 77 151 +7
