A Thai storm in KLGCC - Thai golfers flex the muscles and sweep all five places up for grabs at Maybank Championship Asean Qualifiers
The Thai golfers indeed flexed their strength in women's golf by sweeping all five qualifying slots at the Maybank Championship Asean Qualifiers held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Bukit Kiara.
Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul came out tops after carding a two-day seven-under 137 while Achiraya Sriwong (five-under 139) and Namo Luangnitikul (even-par 144) rounded out a top-three sweep by amateurs.
Cholcheva Wongras (two-over 146) and Kan Bunnabodee were joint-fourth, claiming the remaining two qualifying slots.
Malaysia's Ng Jing Xuen and Genevieve Ling, however, came up short, finishing just one stroke behind. The duo shared sixth spot on three-over 147.
'I'm thrilled to know that I have qualified to play in the Maybank Championship on the LPGA Tour. It means a lot to me.
"It'll be my first professional tournament outside of Thailand. I hope I can play as well in October as I did over the past two days in front of my Malaysian friends,' said the 17-year-old Kritchanya, reflecting on the moment that propelled her onto the LPGA stage.
Meanwhile, he 16-year-old Achiraya Sriwong, the highest-ranked amateur in the field at World No. 41, carded the day's best of 67 for solo second, two behind Kaopattanaskul.
Luangnitikul finished third on 144 following a 71, while Wongras and Bunnabodee shared fourth position after rounds of 71 and 72 respectively, to complete the top-five qualifiers for the US$3 million Maybank Championship, which will be played on the West Course from Oct 30 - Nov 2.
Sriwong said, 'I'm very excited to be playing in the Maybank Championship. Getting the chance to play with the best players out there will be a nice and valuable experience.'
Another Thai player, Kan Bunnabodee, added that this is indeed an honour for her as she will get a chance to be on the same field as World No.1 Jeeno Titikul, currently Thailand's top player.
'For me, I will get to play with the Thai stars, especially Jeeno. She was my teammate
in the national team, so it'll be a nice reunion. I'm looking forward to it. I guess growing up, we had a competitive junior golf programme in Thailand.
"It's a great way to show our potential for those who are not on the LPGA Tour yet. If given the chance, we always want to try and perform well against the world's best golfers," said Kan.
Despite putting up a good fight throughout the two-day contest, the Malaysian girls just missed the spot by one stroke, but both the local golfers were grateful to get a chance to play in the event.
'I'm grateful for the privilege to play in an LPGA setting. It was just a bummer, I didn't do well on my back nine yesterday (Tuesday, Aug 12). My game is improving, but mentally, maybe there was too much expectation, and I didn't play the way I wanted to. I have to learn from this,' said Ng Jing Xuen.
Meanwhile, Genevieve Ling said she had some bad luck during her game, especially on Wednesday: 'I kind of stayed in my own space and kept fighting till the last hole. Unfortunately, a few birdie putts and chips just shaved by the holes. This is golf. On the first hole, my ball plugged in the bunker and I saved bogey, and then I hit a bad drive on the second hole and made double bogey there."
The Asean Qualifier exemplifies Maybank's vision to elevate regional talent onto global platforms, bridging grassroots ambition with world-class opportunity. This year's Asean Qualifier event saw a surge in participation, almost doubling last year's field of 35 golfers to 69, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle for the five coveted Maybank Championship spots.
Opening Doors Beyond the Championship
Asean golfers will not have the Maybank Championships to look forward to as Maybank also announced that the highest-finishing Asean invite at the Maybank Championship will also earn an invitation to one of the 2026 events on the highly competitive Epson Tour – the LPGA's official development tour.
The announcement certainly offers the top Asean amateur at the tournament a unique opportunity to compete with up-and-coming next-generation golfers who are set to dominate the game in the near future.
A Highly Challenging Golf Tournament
Now in its third year, the Maybank Championship has also established itself as Asia's marquee golf tournament. With a US$3 million purse, the continent's richest, it has attracted the game's biggest names, from former and current World No. 1s Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, to major
champions Grace Kim and Ayaka Furue. The two past winners, France's Celine Boutier and China's Ruoning Yin, both deservedly lifted the Tiger Trophy with memorable performances.
Beyond prize money and rankings, the Championship carries a broader ambition of uniting Asean through sport, deepening regional pride, and empowering the next generation of athletes.
The Asean Qualifier is proof of that promise in motion. From the practice greens to the winner's podium, Maybank's platform is redefining what it means to invest in sports for regional impact, economic uplift, and shared aspiration.
Through the Asean Qualifier, the Championship continues to evolve from a tour stop into a transformational force in global women's golf.
NOTE: Entry to watch the best women golfers in the world in action in KL
* Complimentary entry for Maybank Cardholders and MAE App users
* Children under 12 receive complimentary entry
* RM38 Weekday Pass (Thursday & Friday)
* RM68 Weekend Pass (Saturday & Sunday)
* RM88 Season Pass (All Days – Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
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