After a brilliant opening round, Malaysia’s five professionals faced firmer greens and trickier pins on Day 2 of the US$3 million Maybank Championship. Still, Ashley Lau and Genevieve Ling held steady with even-par 72s to share the Malaysian lead at three-under 141 and are tied at 41st place. Mirabel Ting battled back to two-under 142 for tied 49th place, Kelly Tan sits one-under 143 at T55, and Liyana Durisic is even-par 144 for T62.
Ashley Lau admitted the putts simply stopped dropping, but her even-par 72 kept her tied with Genevieve Ling atop the home challenge.
“I just wasn’t playing as good as yesterday. Putts just weren’t dropping for me,” Lau said. Frustration crept in – “Putting is usually my bread and butter” – yet her caddie’s calm reminders to “head up and look up” helped her reset after each bogey. For tomorrow, it’s back to basics: “Do a little putting practice… hopefully more putts drop.”
Genevieve Ling
Genevieve Ling called her round “very up and down,” starting with bogey but scrambling brilliantly and rolling in a closing birdie on 18 to sign for 72.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball very well today, so I scrambled pretty good and I was happy with my putting,” she said. The greens felt “a little bit quicker” than on Thursday.
Plan for Round 3? “Definitely have to go to the range for a little bit just to get a good feel, and then I’m pretty much set,” said Ling.
Mirabel Ting
Mirabel Ting endured a rollercoaster, reaching five-over through 11 with doubles on 9 and 11 due to “bad decisions” and misjudged distances on firmer turf. Yet a late surge, birdies on the back nine, pulled her to one-over 73 and two-under total.
“I completely went blank after those doubles, but I don’t play angry golf anymore; there’s no point,” Ting reflected. “I just want to enjoy myself on the golf course.”
Kelly Tan
Kelly Tan fought survival mode in drying conditions, carding one-over 73 with just two bogeys but craving more red numbers.
“The course dried up a little bit, firmed up, greens slightly quicker,” she noted. Tucked pins demanded precision. “More holes tucked on the ledge… definitely more conservative with the numbers.”
Liyana Durisic
Her short game shone, saving pars repeatedly, but momentum lagged after Day 1’s flow. “Felt like I was in survival mode,” Tan said.
Liyana Durisic rounded out the Malaysian quintet at even-par 144 after a testing day of poorly executed shots, but still hanging tough to finish round two in regulation.
