Leona Maguire slipped back on moving day at the LPGA’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia, and she goes into the final round tied for 52nd as Hye-Jin Choi continues to lead the way.
A three-under 69 got the Cavan woman moving in the right direction on day two, but three bogeys and just the one birdie in round three leaves her playing for minor placings and crucial Race to CME Globe ranking points on day four.
Maintaining the lead she has held since the opening round and looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour, Hye-Jin Choi will take a four-stroke advantage into the final round after shooting a five-under 67 on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Choi has 28 career top-10 finishes and placed second at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open as a 17-year-old amateur.
Choi, who played on the South Korea team in last week’s International Crown, had a 54-hole total of 19-under 197 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country club course. She started the day with a five-stroke lead.
China’s Liu Yan (65) was in second place and Hannah Green, a member of the winning Australia team at the International Crown last weekend, was in third after a 67, four strokes behind Choi.
A Lim Kim was the biggest mover with a 64 that left her in a tie for fourth place, six strokes off the lead. Kim’s round included an eagle on 18 and six birdies.
“It was a great shot, but improbable,” Kim said of her 25-foot eagle putt on 18. She started her round with four birdies in five holes.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, a runner-up in Malaysia the last two years, shot 65 and was also in a fourth-place tie. She birdied her last three holes Saturday.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s good,” said Thitikul. She credited her many fans in the gallery for their support, saying again the venue was like a “mini-Thailand” for her.
Defending champion Yin Ruoning shot 69 and was in seventh place, seven strokes behind Choi and tied with New Zealander Lydia Ko (68).
FULL SCORING
