Ruoning Yin of China
China’s Ruoning Yin claimed a thrilling victory at the US$3 million Maybank Championship, finishing with an impressive 23-under 265 to edge out Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul by just one stroke.
Thitikul closed with a stellar 66, narrowly missing the title but securing a second-place finish. This triumph marks Yin’s second win in October, following her dominant six-shot victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
Entering the final round in a three-way tie at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course, Yin delivered a remarkable 7-under 65 to clinch the title. On the decisive final hole, she held her nerve with a steady two-putt, holding off Thitikul, who had also finished runner-up at last year’s event after a historic nine-hole playoff — the second-longest in LPGA Tour history.
Reflecting on her recent success, Yin said, “Last year was fantastic, but I wondered if I could keep it up. Winning again shows me I just need to enjoy my time on the course. That’s when I play my best.”
South Korea’s Haeran Ryu secured third place with a final-round 67, two shots behind Yin. American Bailey Tardy and Sweden’s Maja Stark matched the day’s low round with 65s, tying for fourth at 16-under 272.
Australian Hannah Green, fresh off her third win of the season in South Korea, also carded a 65 to take sixth place at 15-under 273, sharing the spot with American Marina Alex (69), Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-Ling (68), and South Korea’s Choi Hye-Jin (66).
Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand
Defending champion Celine Boutier from France had aimed for consecutive wins but ultimately finished tied for 12th after a final-round 72, 11 strokes behind Yin.
In a standout performance, Malaysian amateur Mirabel Ting closed with a 2-under 70, ending the tournament at 12-under 276. The young Sarawakian achieved the best finish by a Malaysian at an LPGA event in Malaysia, tying for 12th with the likes of defending champion Celine Boutier and England’s Charley Hull.
Reflecting on her first LPGA appearance, Ting said, “Overall, I think I handled the pressure and the crowd better than I expected. Playing in front of such a supportive home crowd was special, and I learned so much from this experience.”
The support from the local crowd was of deep significance to Ting, whose father passed away two years ago. “Walking up to the green, hearing the crowd cheer, it got emotional,” she said. “My dad isn’t here, but I felt he was watching over me. I know he would be proud.”
Ting’s final nine holes were a mix of highs and lows, including a bogey-birdie-bogey stretch. “I made a mistake off the tee, but I managed to lay up and give myself a good chance,” she noted. “That’s just golf—some putts drop, others don’t. But I knew I could recover, and the birdie on 15 got my confidence back up.”
As the top Malaysian finisher, Ting’s achievement carried added significance. “It’s hard to put into words what this means to me,” she said. “This week showed me I can compete at this level and gave me faith in my potential.”
Mirabel Ting of Malaysia
She is now setting her sights on the Augusta National Women’s Amateur next year and dreams of representing Malaysia on the international stage, with a goal of competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “The Olympics is a dream, and I’m working towards it. Hopefully, after graduating from Florida State in 2026, I’ll be ready to make that goal a reality.”
Meanwhile, Malaysian pro Ashley Lau concluded her final round with a one-under 71, totalling 10-under 278, to tie for 22nd place with players like Allisen Corpuz and Peiyun Chien.
“It was a slow day, honestly,” Lau reflected. “Not a lot of putts were dropping, but I’m still happy with how I finished.”
Though she missed a few birdie chances, Lau took it in stride. “I had a couple of opportunities, especially from around 10-12 feet, but you can’t expect them all to go in.”
Paired with fellow Malaysian Mirabel Ting, Lau embraced the friendly rivalry. “It was fantastic playing alongside Mirabel with the crowd supporting us,” she said. “We were both just playing our own games, and it’s great to see her do so well. This experience is invaluable for both of us.”
Looking ahead to the LPGA’s Q-Series, Lau is optimistic. “This week has shown me that I can compete at this level, which is a real confidence boost going into Q-Series,” she shared. “It’s been a great experience, and maybe it’s a sign that this is what I’m meant to pursue next year.”
Ashley Lau of Malaysia
The other two Malaysians, Liyana Durisic and Durriyah Damian, who qualified through the ASEAN Qualifier, finished 74th and 76th, respectively. After three challenging rounds, Durisic bounced back with a strong final-round score of three-under 69.
At the prize-giving ceremony, Maybank President and Group CEO, Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, said: “We have been privileged to witness golf at its absolute finest in this year’s Maybank Championship, not only by our deserving champion, Ruoning Yin, but by the other LPGA stars and regional talents here at KLGCC.
“From pinpoint, powerful drives to subtle chips and long, breaking putts, the players have really put on a fabulous show for us this year, not the least being our very own rising amateur, Mirabel Ting, who finished as the best-placed Malaysian.
“I am also proud to say that this year’s Maybank Championship witnessed an impressive turnout of more spectators than last year over four days. It is our fervent hope that the championship will inspire more young talents to pick up this beautiful game.
“Maybank, through our humanising mission, has always strived to be a growth driver, delivering social and economic benefits for the country, and this tournament exemplifies that ambition.”
The Maybank Championship featured a field of 78 players, two of whom withdrew through injury.
