Hye Jin Choi (-19) continues her charge at the Maybank Championship in pursuit of her first victory on the LPGA Tour. The Korean golfer, dominating the tournament from start to finish, carded a 67 this Saturday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club and maintains a comfortable lead at the top. She is four strokes ahead of China’s Yan Liu (-15), five ahead of Australia’s Hannah Green (-14), and six ahead of Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul (-13) and Japan’s Ayaka Furue (-13). Anything other than a victory for one of these six players would be a major surprise. In fact, anything other than a win for Choi would be unexpected.
The unstoppable leader is handling the Malaysian course at her will. She is a powerhouse from the tee, missing very few greens along the way, and putting like no other. The two bogeys she has in 54 holes are the best reflection. Today she made one on the 16th, finishing the round, but still managed to birdie the 18th to head to the clubhouse with a good feeling. She seems determined to break that winless streak that no one understands on the LPGA Tour.
Carlota Ciganda has always maintained that one of the swings she likes most on the American circuit is Choi’s. The Navarrese player has indeed shifted into high gear in Asia today. She delivered the second-best card of the day (65 strokes), only surpassed by A Lim Kim (64), and made a significant leap in the standings. She has moved up to 20th place and has set her sights on the tournament’s top 10. She is four strokes away. It won’t be easy, but it’s a possibility.
The golfer from Ulzama has signed seven birdies without a mistake, with impeccable golf from tee to green and 27 putts. A game of precision. She has gained a total of 25 positions in just one day. It’s important to take advantage of and read these types of weeks where there is no cut. Your luck in the tournament can change at any moment. Carlota has made the most of the moving day.
Julia López (+1) didn’t fare as well this Saturday. The golfer from Benahavís has once again experienced a lot of ups and downs on her card. Her birdie ability is beyond doubt (she made four today), but she stumbled with two double bogeys and two bogeys. Too much weight in a tournament where quite low rounds are being played. Her card of 74 strokes has relegated her to 67th place, at the lower end of the standings.
