KUALA LUMPUR: Japan's Miyu Yamashita successfully defended her Maybank Championship title after carding a four-under 68 in the final round to secure a two-stroke victory at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) here today.
The world number four sank five birdies at the third, fifth, eighth, 11th and 18th holes, with her only bogey coming at the ninth, to finish with a four-day total of 22-under 266, two strokes ahead of China's Yan Liu.
Yamashita, who entered the final round with a two-stroke advantage, opened her campaign with a seven-under 65 on Thursday, followed by rounds of six under 66 and five under 67 before closing with a four under 68 today to secure her second consecutive Maybank Championship title.
Speaking to reporters after her victory, Yamashita said maintaining her focus throughout the final round had helped her deliver another strong performance at KLGCC.
"I'm just really happy to have won the title, and I honestly didn't expect to be able to win the tournament two years in a row. So, I just focused on playing each hole," she said.
Meanwhile, Yan Liu finished as runner-up after carding a four-under 68 in the final round for a four-day total of 20-under 268.
The Chinese golfer, who began her campaign with three under 69 and four under 68, produced an impressive nine-under 63 in the third round yesterday before closing with another four under 68 today.
Thailand's amateur golfer Marisa Tojai and France's Pauline Roussin-Bouchard shared third place after finishing four-day totals of 19-under 269.
Marisa, who recorded par 72, five under 67 in second and third round signed off with a five-under 67 today, while Roussin-Bouchard carded a three-under 69 in the final round after earlier rounds of eight under 64, three under 69 and five under 67.
The Maybank Championship offered a total prize money of USD3 million (RM12,174,600), with the first prize winner, Yamashita pocketing USD450,000 (RM1,826,190), second placed Yan Liu USD275,721 (RM 1,118,930.96), while joint third-place winner Roussin-Bouchard took home USD200,016 (RM811,704.93). -- BERNAMA
