Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan was the top performer at the second round of the Maybank Championship at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Friday (Oct 25, 2024). - The Star/Asia News Network
On a crowded field of leading players, three South Koreans are very much in the mix for the race for the title as the US$3 million (about RM13 million) Maybank Championship reaches the halfway mark at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
In fact, besides the three Koreans who are leading the way for the region, the top 12 spots after the second round are loaded with Asians.
Chasing second round leader Maja Stark of Sweden who has a score of 12-under 132, Koreans An Na-rin amd Ryu Hae-ran are locked one shot behind together with Hsu Wei Ling of Taiwan and American Marina Alex.
Then Choi Hye-jin, the third South Korean, who showed a fine game on Friday, shares the next spot on 134 together with China's top star Yin Ruoning.
Australia's Gabriela Ruffels is a lonely figure at the eight spot with two-day score of nine-under 135.
Then comes the Asean stars at the joint ninth spot with Filipino Bianca Pagdanganan and Thai star Atthaya Jeeno Thitikul, last year's runner-up, on a score of 136. Defending champion Celine Boutier of France and American Karen Gillman are also bunched together with the Asean stars.
Bianca, too, showed some good form to finish in the top 10 at the halfway mark. In fact, she also topped the scoring for most of the day, shot a six-under 66 to tie for ninth spot on the leaderboard. With her 136 total, Bianca moved up 33 places in the second round and can look forward to making more inroads on the third day on Saturday.
“I'm really happy to be here. I was in the Philippines prior to this week, so when I got the invite, I was excited. I didn't have to fly that far. It's a really great opportunity.
"I'm happy to be playing in South-East Asia. This is my region, so I feel nice, kind of acclimated to the weather. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play this week. Really thankful for Maybank and the opportunity they're not just giving us LPGA players, but the all the other Asean players. Yeah, what they're doing to grow the game is great”, said a beaming Bianca.
South Korean Choi Hye-jin shares the tied sixth spot with China's Yin Ruoning on a score of 10-under 134. - The Star/Asian News Network
Meanwhile, Korean Choi was also a happy figure after yesterday's score of six-under 66. She had returned 68 on the first day.
"Today was a good round for me. I just need to keep it up. Then you know we see where we are on Sunday. The course is challenging but I like it here. The important thing here is the consistency and I must have that to go further here," said the 25-year-old Choi, who finished seventh at the Evian Championship this year.
She also finished runners-up at the 2017 US women Open. That performance and the this year's Evian Championship was her best show at the Majors.
"Ultimately, my aim is definitely to win a Major title, It is every golfer's dream. But winning here would certainly help my confidence too."
Meanwhile, Malaysian golfer Ashley Lau managed to recover from a slow start in the opening round to lead the local challenge.
The Olympian carded four under 68 today, to finish joint 39th with four other golfers with a two-day total of three under 141 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGC), Bukit Kiara here.
After carding a one over 73 score yesterday, Ashley managed to hit six birdies (3,4,6,8,10,17 holes) and two bogeys in par four second and 12th hole.
"It was a very slow start for me, it felt like I wasn't doing good on the front nine, but I shot one under. I think my putts started going in on the second nine, so very glad they did,” she said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian amateur Mirabel Ting was unable to continue her impressive performance as she scored a three over 75 to finish joint 44th with an overall two under 142.
The 18-year-old started her Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour debut by cardeing a five under 67 to share 11th place, yesterday.
The Sarawakian said she was frustrated with today’s performance after just hitting two birdies at 15th and 17th holes.
"Conditions were a little bit much more tougher today. Putts didn't drop. I Made a couple, probably three putts coming in and couldn't make any birdies. Just frustrated with the way I played today,” she said.
Other local representatives, Nur Durriyah Damian and Liyana Durisic continued to remain at the bottom of the leaderboard, with overall scores of 13 over 157 and 16 over 160, respectively.
