Robyn Choi's bold quest for a maiden LPGA Tour victory is over with Miyu Yamashita holding strong to win by two strokes.
Yamashita successfully defended her title at the LPGA Tour’s Maybank Championship on Sunday, beating China’s Yan Liu by two strokes at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
The 2025 Women’s British Open winner and third-round leader had a 72-hole total of 22-under 266 after a final round 68. The world No.4 won last year’s Malaysian tournament after a three-way playoff.
The Japanese golfer had five birdies Sunday, for just the one bogey at the par-4 9th, in a near perfect week where she led from Friday's second round until the final hole.
It was the 25-year-old's fifth career title and second in the LPGA Tour this season after she took a wire-to-wire, nine-stroke victory in the CPKC Women’s Open at Royal Mayfair in Edmonton, Alberta in August.
On the back of Saturday's 63 to surge into contention, Yan kept in touch throughout the final round as she also shot a 68, but couldn't quite close the gap to the nerveless Yamashita and finished at 18-under 268.
Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who led after the first round, shot 69 Sunday and was tied for third with amateur player Marisa Tojai (67) of Thailand a further shot back.
Choi was fifth at 17-under 271 after a 69.
The Australian, who reeled off eight birdies in a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to be tied fourth entering the final round, had four birdies and a lone bogey in the final round.
Choi, 28, had her rookie season on the LPGA Tour back in 2019 and has managed just two top-10 results since. She tied for eighth at the Kroger Queen City Championship back in May.
Her finish in Kuala Lumpur moved her 14 positions up the CME rankings to No.60.
Compatriot Karis Davidson moved up nine spots to finish tied ninth, following her final-round 68 for a 13-under 275 total.
Hannah Green (68) was the next best Australian in a tie for 27th at nine under, while Cassie Porter dropped 10 spots to finish tied 35th after her 73 on Sunday.
Next week, the LPGA’s four-week, late-season Asian swing ends with the Toto Japan Classic at Omitama outside Tokyo.
with AP
