Latest news with #MaybankChampionship
The Star
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Thai teen Kritchanya aces her way to a five-shot lead at Maybank Championship Asean Qualifier; Malaysian Zulaikah in second place
Thailand's rising amateur Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul sank her career first hole-in-one en route to a commanding lead following the first round of the Maybank Championship A sean Qualifier on Tuesday (Aug 12). The 17-year-old Thai national team member produced the magical ace on the 147-yard par-three fourth hole at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club's West Course, which saw her post a stellar first round of five-under-par 67. She leads by five shots from Malaysia's Zulaikah Nasser and another Thai amateur, Achiraya Sriwong, who shot matching 72s. Four players – Genevieve Ling and Aretha Pan, both from Malaysia, Thai amateur Namo Luangnitikul and Thai professional Chakansim Khamborn – are tied for fourth place on one-over-par 73. After two rounds, the top-five players will earn exemptions into the US$3 million Maybank Championship, the region's premier LPGA Tour event, from Oct 30 to Nov 2. Meanwhile, Kritchanya was very pleased with her efforts on the first day and hope to nail a place in the Maybank Championship . 'I'm very happy with this result. My approach shots and putting were good. On the par-threes, I was able to get it close to the pin and made the putts for birdies. And today, I also got my first hole-in-one ever! It was about 137 yards, and I used a 9-iron. " I was a bit shocked as it was quite a blind shot, so I didn't know where my ball went. I was looking for the ball and then my caddie's friend told me, it's in the hole . And that was an amazing feeling," Kritchanya said. 'I'm excited about the chance to play in the Maybank Championship, but I will keep myself calm and stick to my plan. I've played in professional events in Thailand before, but this will be my first time in an LPGA event, if I make it. " Malaysia's Zulaikah Nasser in action at the event and is places joint-second. Meanwhile, an excited Zulaikah is also hoping to carry her form to the second day of the qualifying tournament. "I feel pretty good about my round, although it was very up and down. I think I did well through the first eight holes, and then on nine and 10, I bogeyed both holes ," Said Zulaikah. "However, I bounced right back and finished with a birdie. I am hopeful for another good day tomorrow. "I feel like if I keep doing the same things and keep my mind present, hopefully I will make it." 'Today was about hitting the greens because the course is pretty long for me. So it was about making greens, taking two-putts, and walking off with a par, which is good. If I made a birdie, that's a bonus. But even if I had to fight my way through to make a bogey, it's okay, I could recover somewhere else.' The other Thai, Achiraya Sriwong, who shares the second spot with Zulaikah on 72, said she aims to maintain her form and make the cut for the main tournament. 'I made some easy mistakes, and it could have been better. My short game wasn't good, but it's okay. Course wasn't overly difficult, but my chipping didn't work," said Acbiraya. "Everything else was okay. Made three birdies, which were from short birdie putts. I hit some good iron shots, but I will have to work on my chipping tomorrow. There are so many good players out there, so I'm just going to keep giving my best." Leading scores 67: Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul (Tha) amateur; 72: Zulaikah Nasser (Mas), Achiraya Sriwong (Tha) amateur; 73: Genevieve Ling (Mas), Aretha Pan (Mas), Namo Luangnitikul (Tha) amateur, Chakansim Khamborn (Tha)l 74: Tatiana Wijaya (Ina), Thitapa Pakdeesettakul (Tha), Onkanok Soisuwan (Tha), Kan Bunnabodee (Tha).
New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Zulaikah swings back into contention with birdie finish
Malaysia's trio of Zulaikah Nasser, Aretha Pan and Genevieve Ling have given themselves a fighting chance to secure a dream LPGA Tour start at the Maybank Championship in October after a solid opening round today. Zulaikah carded an even-par 72 to share second place with Thai amateur Achiraya Sriwong, both trailing another Thai amateur, Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul, by five strokes after she fired a stunning 67 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC). Zulaikah said: "I feel pretty good about my round although it was very up and down. "I think I did well through the first eight holes and then on nine and 10, I bogeyed both holes. "However, I bounced right back and finished with a birdie. I'm happy. I am hopeful for another good day tomorrow. Aretha and Genevieve each returned a 73 to sit in a four-way tie for third alongside Thailand's Chanakim Khamborn and Namo Luangnitkul, heading into today's decisive final 18 holes. Only the top five finishers will book their spots in the US$3 million (RM12.7 million) showpiece, which returns for its third edition as the richest LPGA Tour stop in Asia. Earning a place in the elite 78-woman field guarantees a minimum payout of approximately US$5,400 as the tournament is a no-cut event. It was a tougher day for the highest-ranked Malaysian in the field, Liyana Durisic, and former SEA Games gold medallist Ng Jing Xuen, who both have work to do to secure back-to-back appearances after struggling to 77s in the opening round. Leading first round scores: (Malaysian unless stated) *(a) indicates amateur 67: Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul (Tha) (a); 72: Zulaikah Nasser, Achiraya Sriwong (Tha) (a); 73: Chakansim Khamborn (Tha), Aretha Pan, Genevieve Ling, Namo Luangnitikul (Tha); 74: Tatiana Wijaya (Ina), Thitapa Pakdeesettakul (Tha), Onkanok Soisuwan (Tha), Kan Bunnabodee (Tha).
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Liyana, Jing Xuen spearhead local challenge in Maybank Championship qualifier
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 69 golfers, including 24 Malaysians, will vie for five coveted spots in the prestigious Maybank Championship through its 36-hole Asean Qualifier, which tees off Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC). The two-day battle will determine who joins the elite 78-woman field for the third edition of the Maybank Championship, scheduled from Oct 30-Nov 2. Offering US$3 million (RM12.7 million) in prize money, it is the richest LPGA Tour stop in Asia. Top Malaysian names such as Maybank ambassador Kelly Tan, national No. 1 Ashley Lau, newly-turned professional Mirabel Ting and Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Jeneath Wong are expected to secure their places via sponsor invitations. However, the qualifier, open exclusively to players from the Southeast Asian region, gives the host nation a chance to further boost its representation. Among the notable Malaysians chasing qualification are Liyana Durisic, Genevieve Ling, Aretha Pan, Ng Jing Xuen and Winnie Ng. Last year, Liyana and Nur Durriyah Damian successfully battled their way through the qualifier to make the main event. Liyana, currently the national No. 2, is aiming for back-to-back appearances at KLGCC after an impressive season that saw her record top-10 finishes in all five of her starts on the Women's Professional Golf of Australia Tour. "Obviously, I think of good things when I come back here and I'm looking forward to qualifying again," said Liyana, who finished 74th in last year's Maybank Championship. This year's qualifier is more competitive, with the field more than doubling from last year's 35 players to 69, including a strong 36-player contingent from Thailand — but Liyana is unfazed. "There are more players in the field – more Thai players – and it's a very strong field. I'm looking forward to the challenge and stepping up my game. "I am hitting it good and hopefully I can continue the momentum into tomorrow," she added. Another strong local contender is Jing Xuen, the former SEA Games gold medallist who turned professional at just 16 last year. The 17-year-old has enjoyed a promising debut season on the China LPGA Tour, recording one top-10 and two top-20 finishes. "I'm pretty excited about this week. I am managing my expectations and will try to enjoy my game. Compared to China, the golf course here is so much tougher. I have improved my iron shots and I'm looking to put it to test here," said Jing Xuen. "It's a big deal for us this week. It's a fascinating opportunity to get a chance to qualify for an LPGA tournament. "Playing in the tournament proper in 2023 was such a great experience as I was 15 at that time. Playing alongside world-class players was great and I learned a lot. That's my final dream (to get onto the LPGA)." The Malaysian hopefuls will face stern competition from regional rivals, including eight players from Thailand, six from Indonesia, two from the Philippines and one from Singapore. Among the returning are last year's qualifiers Ida Ayu Indira Melati of Indonesia and Thailand's Chayanit Wangmahaporn.
The Star
05-08-2025
- Sport
- The Star
South-East Asia's rising golf star Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand is now the No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking
For the second time in her career, Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul has reached No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. Currently the top golfing superstar in South-East Asia, Thitikul achieved the feat thanks to her tie for 30th at the AIG Women's Open, the final Major tournament of the women's golf season. Thitikul moved one spot on the Rolex Rankings, passing American Nelly Korda, who had held the top spot since March 25, 2024. Thitikul first ascended to the top of the Rolex Rankings on October 31, 2022, and held the position for two weeks. She is the second Thai player to reach Rolex Rankings No. 1, along with Ariya Jutanugarn. 'I am very grateful to become the No. 1 player in the world for the second time. This is not just about me – this is about my family, my team, and my friends, not to mention the amazing support I feel from my fans in Thailand and all around the world,' said Thitikul. 'There are so many incredible golfers competing every week, and I will work my hardest to make sure I am a strong representative of our game.' For the record, Thitikul has recorded eight top-10 finishes this season, the most on the LPGA Tour. She captured the title at the Mizuho Americas Open, finished solo second at the Amundi Evian Championship, and earned a tie for second at the HSBC Women's World Championship. She currently leads the Race to the CME Globe with 2,204.950 points, the Rolex Player of the Year standings with 104 points, and the scoring average standings at 69.511. Thitikul won twice in 2024, starting with a successful partnership at the Dow Championship with China's Ruoning Yin. She then capped the year with a victory at the CME Group Tour Championship, earning the largest single prize in the history of women's golf with the US$4 million winner's check. Thitikul has finished second twice at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, losing an epic nine-hole play to France's Celine Boutier in 2023 and settling for runner-up again last year, just one shot behind champion Yin. Before joining the LPGA Tour, Thitikul became the youngest player ever to win the Ladies European Tour's Race to Costa del Sol in 2021 while also securing Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honours. At 14 years, 4 months, and 19 days, Thitikul also became the youngest golfer to ever win a professional golf tournament with her victory at the LET's Thailand Championship in 2017. Korda first became No. 1 in June 2021 and has spent 108 total weeks atop the Rolex Rankings, becoming the sixth player to reach triple digits in weeks at World No. 1. Thitikul, Yin, and Korda are also expected to be among the star players for Malaysia's premier golf tournament, the Maybank Championship, scheduled for October 30 - November 2 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). The tournament over the last few years has seen the world's best players taking part in the tournament, and this year Thitikul will certainly be out to grab the top spot after two runners-up performances.
NBC Sports
09-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mirabel Ting making pro debut at Evian with heavy heart
When Mirabel Ting tees off Thursday in the first round of the Amundi Evian Championship, it will mark her first action as a professional. She'll be playing for more than herself, too. Ting, 19, decided last week to forgo her final season at Florida State and turn pro in time to make her major-championship debut. Before she released the news to the world, Ting flew home to Malaysia to tell her grandfather, Ng Siaw Pheng. It was Ting's grandfather who would take Mirabel and her older, Malcolm, to play a quick nine holes after school, while also funding their tournament schedules and other golf-related endeavors, including Mirabel's boarding-school tuition in Australia. 'He has been supporting my journey since I was a kid,' Ting said of her grandfather. Ng Siaw Pheng health had been declining, and when Mirabel arrived, he was barely awake as she told him, 'Hey, I'm playing in the Evian as a professional, and I would like you to watch me play.' Days later, when Mirabel was at the airport to head to France, she received the 'phone call that I didn't want.' Her grandfather had died. 'It's hard,' Ting said. 'I don't know, it's kind of like a mixed feeling for me right now. But this is part of my life, and I just want to do it for him.' This isn't the first time that Ting has experienced loss. Her grandmother died in 2020 while Mirabel was in Australia. Then two years later in fall 2022, Mirabel, on her way to a tournament as a freshman at Augusta University, received word that she'd also lost her father, Thomas, to a heart attack. She'll carry the memories of all three with her this week at Evian Resort. 'This week's going to be bigger than myself,' Ting added. Ting, the reigning Annika Award winner, has previously made just one LPGA start – she competed in last year's Maybank Championship in her native Malaysia, where she tied for 12th. That was amid a torrid stretch of college golf in which Ting won six of her first seven tournaments for the Seminoles. She capped her impressive season by going third-second-second at the ACC Championship, NCAA Lexington Regional and NCAA Championship, respectively. Florida State head coach Amy Bond has long called Ting 'the best ball-striker I've ever seen,' and Ting's switch to instructor Kris Assawapimonporn, who most notably works with Jeeno Thitikul, late last year has helped her revamp her putting. To officially announce her decision, Ting worked with Florida State's creative department to draft a long thank-you post, which she closed with: 'A 10-year-old Mirabel could never have imagined this moment, but after years of dedication and heart, I'm proud to announce that I'm turning professional and chasing my dream of playing on the LPGA tour. I can't wait to see where this journey leads.'
