KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Defending champion Miyu Yamashita of Japan sank six birdies en route to a bogey-free six-under 66 to soar to the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the Maybank Championship 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) here today.
The Japanese golfer’s impressive round - with birdies on the second, third, sixth, eighth, 10th and 15th holes - saw her open up a two-stroke lead with a two-day total of 13-under 131, putting her firmly in contention to retain her title.
"My ball striking was pretty consistent again today, and I was able to give myself some good birdie opportunities with my approach shots. Overall, I think I played another really solid round,” Yamashita said after finishing her round.
Commenting on her performance, the 25-year-old said she was not surprised by her strong showing, noting that her game had improved significantly compared to last year.
"It's not different from usual, but I've been playing some really good rounds this year, especially, and my game is in better shape than last year. My swing feels really good, too,” she added.
Meanwhile, first-round leader Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France slipped to joint second after carding a three-under 69 in the second round.
Pauline and Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, who fired a second-round six-under 66, are joint second with a two-day total of 11-under 133. -- BERNAMA
