Off it goes: Ashley Lau hitting a shot during the third round of the Maybank Championship. Top: Mirabel Ting. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Mirabel Ting and Ashley Lau have given local golf fans even more reason to swamp the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club for today’s Maybank Championship finale.
The Sarawakian duo – representing Malaysia’s finest in amateur and professional ranks respectively – were on fire to charge up the leaderboard yesterday, positioning themselves within the top 12 for the final round.
Mirabel, despite being the only amateur in the field, underlined her talent against LPGA Tour heavyweights with a stellar, bogey-free eight-under 64, the day’s lowest score, propelling her to a share of 10th place at 10-under 206.
The 19-year-old is just six shots behind joint leaders Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, China’s Yin Ruoning and South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran.
Her performance was even more remarkable given her struggles in the second round, where she posted a three-over 75.
Ashley also impressed with a flawless six-under 66, capped by a dramatic chip-in par save at the 18th, which secured her a tie for 12th at 207.
Both players are in with a good chance to break Kelly Tan’s record for the best Malaysian finish in a home LPGA Tour event, a tie for 32nd at the 2010 Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
The highest-ever finish by a Malaysian in an LPGA Tour event belongs to Lim Siew Ai, who tied for second at the 2004 Kellogg-Keebler Classic.
Mirabel’s comeback round was nothing short of spectacular.
Playing before an appreciative gallery that included her family, Mirabel lit up the greens with six birdies on the front nine before adding two more on the back, equalling the 64 posted by Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul among the tournament leaders.
The world’s eighth-ranked amateur, with three collegiate victories in the US already under her belt, spoke confidently about competing at the highest level.
“I actually wasn’t really expecting to come back with a 64. I told myself, if it happens, it happens. There are good days and bad days,’’ she said.
“To play here and also to shoot this score shows I belong on this stage.”But despite this, Mirabel remains grounded.
“I’m here to learn and experience playing with the best in the world. No matter what the outcome, I’ll be proud of what I’m doing,” she added.
“When I started I actually just told my caddie, you know I shot three-over yesterday.
“Wasn’t a really good round. That definitely wasn’t me.
“So I told him that we are just going to keep it a lot simple today. I’m not opening my yardage book today and I did not for the 18 holes, and I just play and he just do the job.
“That kept me really simple at the start,” added Mirabel.
For Ashley, the prospect of a top-10 finish and its associated financial rewards – US$60,000 (RM240,000) for a top 10 spot is a motivator but she’s keeping a cool head heading into the final round.
“I think it’s just a normal day tomorrow. If it happens, great, but that’s not my main goal.
“My goal is to have fun and play without pressure, because that’s when I perform my best,” said the Paris Olympian golfer, who also hopes to rally the local fans around her.
“Having support behind you is great. It makes you feel more comfortable out on the course,” she added.
