Summary
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Scotland's Gemma Dryburgh, who earned her only LPGA Tour victory three years ago in Japan, played brilliantly on Thursday. Her 7-under-par 65 at the Maybank Classic puts her in a strong position for her second Asian win. Dryburgh made her seventh birdie of the day on the 18th hole at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, leaving her one stroke behind leader Hye-Jin Choi, who shot a 64 with an eagle on the par-five 3rd and a birdie on the 18th. Dryburgh is tied for second place with Italy's Benedetta Moresco.
“It was a very quiet round,” Dryburgh commented. Although the hot, humid weather is very different from that of his native Scotland, his experience in New Orleans, where he attended Tulane University, helped him adjust. “Yes, it’s very different from Scotland, but living here helped me on a day like today,” he added. “I like the greens; they’re similar to those in New Orleans, a little grainy, which suits my style.”.
Key details
Among the seven players tied for fourth place with 66, two strokes behind Choi, are Lydia Ko, Hannah Green, Ingrid Lindblad, Arpichaya Yubol and Somi Lee.
Choi mentioned that he made some good recovery shots that allowed him to take the lead. “I had many situations where I could have made bogeys because of the rough and hazards, but I managed to make a lot of good pars,” he said.
Defending champion Yin Ruoning and world number one Jeeno Thitikul both shot 68s. Thitikul, the only multiple winner on the LPGA Tour this year after triumphing at the Mizuho Americas Open in May and again in Shanghai nearly three weeks ago, has been runner-up in her last two appearances in Malaysia. “I feel comfortable playing here,” she said before the first round. “The course, the weather, and the fans feel like a second home to me. It’s like a mini-Thailand.”.
Last week, Australia won the International Crown team event in South Korea. Next week, the LPGA will conclude its five-week Asian swing with the Japan Classic in Shiga, where Dryburgh won in 2022.
