South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi carded a five-under 67 to stretch her lead to 19-under 197 at the US$3 million Maybank Championship, four shots clear of China’s Yan Liu, who fired a bogey-free seven-under 65 for 15-under 201. Australia’s Hannah Green posted five-under 67 to claim sole third at 14-under 202, as the West Course at KLGCC set up a tense Sunday finale.
Hye-Jin Choi stayed composed in the heat, crediting her playing partners for sharper focus during another sub-70 round. “The good part about it was the players I played with today, because of them, I could concentrate more on my game. It was quite hot today, but better than yesterday, so it worked well for me,” Choi said through a translator.
Despite past near-misses, victory beckons. “I had a lot of chances before to win, but I didn’t make it, but now I played well for three days, so I’m just looking for my win tomorrow.”
Her mindset remains locked. “I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time, and I’m going to try my best tomorrow. I think I will feel like I’m making the dream, and I just imagine it.”
“I’m going to concentrate on my game tomorrow,” she concluded.
Yan Liu of China
Yan Liu delivered a flawless 65, seven birdies fuelled by seamless play from tee to green. “I just feel very good in my game, from the driver to the putting. Everything feels great,” Liu said.
Patience defined her bogey-free run. “Golf cannot be perfect. I just stay patient.”
Heat poses no issue; she thrives in it. “I enjoy this hot weather. I’m from south of China, and so in my hometown, it’s very hot.”
Course conditions suit birdie hunts. “The fairway and even the bunker are perfect. So I think just try to make more birdies on this course.”
She added that on Sunday, she’d like to play like she did today, but with more patience and focus.
Hannah Green overcame an erratic start, a double on the par-5 3rd, to reel off birdies with a sizzling putter. “I was one-under through the second hole and then one-over through the third, so it was kind of a very up-and-down start. But the putter was really hot. I think I had six or seven one-putts in a row for par and for birdie,” Green said.
A late bogey after a bare lie chip irked her, but momentum held. “To bounce back on the next hole and make a birdie, that was really the momentum that I used for the rest of the round.”
Chasing Choi demands precision on par-5s: “There are just so many birdies to be made. Hopefully I can play the par-5s a little bit better tomorrow.”
Hannah Green of Australia
Nerves may factor: “Choi’s going for her first LPGA Tour win, so she might be feeling a little bit more nervous than I am. Hopefully, I make some more birdies and give it my best shot.”
Three players share fourth at 13-under 203, including A Lim Kim of South Korea, World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, and Ayaka Furue of Japan, all primed to capitalise if the leader stumbles in the final round.
