KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Jeeno Thitikul misplaced a prolonged playoff on the LPGA Tour’s Maybank Championship in 2023. On Saturday, she shot an 8-under 64 to go away her in a three-way tie for the lead after three rounds and with an opportunity to win the event outright this yr.
The Thai participant had a three-round whole of 16-under 200 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Nation Membership course. She was tied with Ruoning Yin (66) and Haeran Ryu (67) going into Sunday’s ultimate spherical.
Final yr, Thitikul misplaced in a playoff to Celine Boutier of France. The 2 gamers tied for first place at 21-under par then performed a nine-hole playoff that the French participant received. The playoff tied for the second-longest in LPGA Tour historical past.
“It has been like a heaven week, to be sincere,” Thitikul mentioned Saturday. “You recognize, like KL [Kuala Lumpur] is near Thailand and I really feel prefer it’s a second residence right here. All of the followers cheering out right here, it is very nice and superb to be right here. After which additionally the golf course, it is one in all my favorites to date.”
Second-round chief Maja Stark shot 70 and was in fourth place, two behind the leaders. Defending champion Boutier was 4 strokes behind after a 68 and tied for fifth with American Marina Alex (71).
“Clearly it is good to have reminiscences and stuff, but in addition know I’ve to concentrate on what I am doing and I really feel like this course is fairly scoreable so it’s important to go on the market and be aggressive,” Boutier mentioned.
Hannah Inexperienced, who earned her third victory of 2024 and sixth of her profession final week in South Korea, shot a 68 and was at 8 beneath, eight strokes behind. She was tied with Brooke Henderson, who shot 66 on Saturday.
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