World number four Yin Ruoning of China in action in the fourth round of the Maybank Championship at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Sunday (Oct 27, 2024), - The Star/Asia News Network
WORLD number four Yin Ruoning is on a hot streak. She has been impressing all golf fans since winning her first Major last year and since then it has been only upwards for her.
And on Sunday, the star of China's golf scene shot a blemish-free superb final-round 65 to win her second tournament in three weeks at the US LPGA Tour's Maybank Championship in Malaysia on Sunday.
The 22-year-old China number one Yin is in superb form on the LPGA Tour's Asian swing, having won her home Buick Shanghai title a fortnight ago and finishing tied 14th at the BMW Championship in South Korea last weekend.
She took her third win of 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club by finishing on 23-under 265, a stroke clear of her good friend Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul.
Yin, Jeeno and South Korea's Ryu Hae-ran all began the final day tied for the lead at 16-under par, but it was Yin who got over the line with a seventh birdie of her round at the final hole to complete a bogey-free card. Ryu, also a close friend of the duo, finished a stroke further back third on 21-under par.
Yin Ruoning celebrating her Maybank Championships title with her best friend Jeeno Thitikul (right) at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Sunday (Oct 27, 2024), - The Star/Asia News Network
Immediately after the win in a TV interview, Yin said playing in Malaysia is definitely a fantastic experience.
"The local fans were really nice to me. I mean Jeeno has many, many fans here but all the same, the fans here were still good to me and encouraged me every time I hit a good shot. That is indeed a wonderful experience," she said during the interview.
"I take this opportunity to thank them all (fans). Indeed, it has been a honour for me to win here."
As for the match, Yin said it was pretty amazing especially playing along her two friends.
"You know, it just does not happen everyday (playing in the Championship flight with friends). I don't know if that will ever happen again. But I will be hoping it does," said the beaming Yin.
"Actually, I was pretty nervous," admitted the former world number one Yin.
"I really, really appreciated Haeran and Jeeno. They bring the best out of me. Just another great day on the course and another excellent outing with my friends. Simply unforgettable."
She attributed her superb late-season form to mental strength and becoming able to handle anxiety.
"I would say I learnt a lot from early this year because I was pretty stressed," said Yin. "I had such a great last year and I was wondering if I could win again.
"But I think I just really learned that I just need to enjoy myself out there and have fun."
Yin started well with two birdies in her first three holes. She holed two more at the sixth and seventh before securing a two-shot advantage with a beautiful approach on the 10th.
She gained another shot to par at the 12th and sealed victory with her 25th birdie of the week on the final hole.
Jeeno had to settle for second place for the second year in a row, having lost in a playoff to Celine Boutier last year.
The 21-year-old said she never doubted that Yin would make her final birdie putt from four feet to secure the title.
"She never missed a putt from that distance in the two days I played with her. So I knew she was going to make it," said Jeeno. "She played four rounds of incredible golf, so the trophy belongs to someone who made fewer mistakes.
As for her result. Jeeno said there were no regrets as she gave it all especially in the fourth round.
"I mean, it's all what I can do, you know. I did give 100% out there. You know, in the back nine towards the end I really, really give it a real go," said Jeeno.
"But as you saw it, Ronni really did an incredible job. I think for the past three days she did not have any bogey at all. That's why we all know she deserve the title.
"Also, I like to thank the wonderful fans here. I mean it was amazing and there were lot more fans this year. The kids too. I believe all the golfers love to see the kids following us. It has been a great run here and I'm hoping the final stretch of the LPGA tour continues to be good for all the golfers."
