Oct 27,2024
Leona Maguire shot a second successive 68 to boost her chances of a top 20 finish at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
The Cavan golfer had been in recovery mode after an underwhelming first-round 73, but has since found some form to shoot up the leaderboard, with her seven-under score leaving her in a tie for 25th.
That leaves her nine shots off the lead shared by Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, China’s Ruoning Yin and Korean Haeran Ryu who are all on 16 under par.
FULL LEADERBOARD
Maguire was on the charge from the off as she opened up with back-to-back birdies, picking up another three along the way before her only dropped shot of the round on the par-four 16th.
Thitikul shot a 64, an eagle at the par-5 third and a trio of birdies on the front nine left her at five-under 31 for the front nine. She closed with consecutive birdies on the last three holes.
The 21-year-old Thitikul will be matched in the final group Sunday with co-leaders Yin, 22, of China and South Korean Ryu, 23.
Yin shot a 66 and Ryu a 67 as they leapfrogged Sweden's Maja Stark (70), who led after three rounds but fell into fourth, two strokes back at 14 under.
"Was good. Couldn't ask for better," Thitikul said of her effort. "I mean, like I have been in contention week in, week out, and then what I focus for about, it's just like trying to do better every day no matter [what] any people going to do. But like today is the day I really enjoy playing and everything went so well."
And maybe it's Thitikul's turn to win. In the 2023 edition of the tournament, she finished tied with France's Celine Boutier before losing in a nine-hole playoff.
Boutier is lurking again this year, with her 68 putting her into a tie with Marina Alex (71) at 12 under par in fifth place.
Ryu produced her 67 despite not feeling very well. She started strongly with four birdies but mustered just one, at the par-four 17th hole, on the back nine.
"Today was a tough day for me, but I made some bogey-free round and a lot of birdies today," Ryu said. "But the back nine hole is a little bit boring to play, but I made some long birdie putt at the hole 17 and I'm so happy for there."
"Tomorrow I want to make some birdie last nine holes," she said.
