Japan’s Miyu Yamashita continued her impressive title defence at the US$3 million Maybank Championship, carding a third-round 67 to retain the lead at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on Saturday.
The defending champion heads into Sunday’s final round with a total of 18-under-par 198, holding the top spot as the chasing pack closes the gap.
Yan Liu of China
China’s Yan Liu produced the round of the day with a stunning 9-under 63, climbing into a share of second place with France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who carded a 67. Both players are two shots behind Yamashita.
Yamashita, who has never defended a title, said she was pleased with how she handled a few tricky situations to remain bogey-free.
“I really like the course, and I’ve been getting so much support from the fans here in Malaysia, so I will do my best tomorrow,” she said.
The Japanese star admitted she enjoys both leading and chasing, though she prefers the latter. With a chance to secure a second consecutive Maybank Championship title, she will be looking to hold off a strong challenge in Sunday’s final round.
Liu capped her brilliant round with an eagle on the 18th, finishing with a flourish after a day of particularly sharp putting.
“I didn’t even know what score I had when I finished. I asked my caddie, and he said nine-under. I was very surprised,” said Liu.
“My swing was in a very good position and my putting was on fire today. I’m really happy with my putter, and I hope tomorrow is the same. One shot at a time, just live in the present and don’t think about the result.”
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard remains firmly in contention after another solid round. The Frenchwoman said she was pleased with how she handled the challenges, including a few bogeys, while maintaining the same mindset that had served her well over the first two days.
“I’m very happy with the way I’m hitting the ball, so it’s easier to get on with the bogey because I know there are plenty of other opportunities coming my way,” she said.
The 26-year-old added that the hard work she had put in over the past few weeks was beginning to pay off. She also emphasised the importance of staying hydrated in the Malaysian heat, revealing that she and her team refilled their bottles every two holes, drinking at least nine bottles during the round.
Thailand’s amateur Marisa Tojai was another standout, firing a 7-under 65 to move into a share of fourth place. She is level with Australia’s Robyn Choi, who shot a 6-under 66.
Making her LPGA Tour debut, Marisa said she was excited to compete alongside the tour’s established players. The Thai teenager revealed that her lowest career round was 13-under, indicating that her impressive performance at KLGCC was well within her scoring ability.
Marisa Tojai of Thailand
Choi, meanwhile, credited her improved putting for her strong week so far. The Australian said her ball-striking had been solid in recent weeks, but her putts had not been dropping until this tournament.
Robyn Choi of Australia
She has also enjoyed the support of Australian fans in Malaysia, noting that the familiar accents around the course made her feel at home.
Looking ahead to the final round, Choi plans to stick to her game plan of finding fairways and greens while avoiding unnecessary mistakes.
