KUALA LUMPUR: In one of the epic finale that was seen in recent times, China's world number four Yin Ruoning fired seven birdies en route to winning the US$3 million (RM13 million) 2024 Maybank Championship at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) on Sunday.
It was an unforgettable victory for Ruoning too as winning was achieved by pipping Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul, her best friend, by one stroke and also upstage another close buddy inn the form of South Korean Ryu Hae-Ran.
All three close friends started in the same flight after sharing a three-way third round lead on Saturday. The trio ended the third day with a score score of 16-under 200 (67-67-66).
The result also left Jeeno, a big favourite with the fans and South-East Asia's rising star, suffering a second straight heartbreak, having also finished runner-up in last year's inaugural edition.
But all credit to the 22-year-old Ruoning who was incredible form all-day long and despite being challenged time and again by her two close friends, she stood firm in her game on Sunday.
Former world number one Ruoning continued from where she left off on Saturday by carding seven birdies on the first, third, sixth, seventh, 10th, 12th and 18th holes to conclude the final round with a seven-under 65 for a four-day total of 23-under 265.
That allowed her to claim her second Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour title in two weeks, having bagged the LPGA Buick Shanghai crown on Oct 13. Her Maybank Championship victory is also her fifth on the LPGA Tour.
"I had such great year last year I was wondering if I can win again, what if I can’t, such things," Yin said. "But I think I just really learned that I just need to enjoy myself out here and have fun, happy, so that’s what I do.”
In 2023, Yin was in excellent form and won her first Majors after bagging the Women's PGA Championships title. She also won the LA open which saw her rise high in the world rankings.
She has managed to do well this year again. Yin had a dominant six-shot win at LPGA Shanghai earlier this month and also won the 2024 Dow Championship in June, where she partnered with Thitikul.
"It has been an amazing run, I just hope to keep it going and look back at all of it at the end of the season."
