Confident walk: Malaysian golfer Mirabel Ting (fourth right) during the first round of LPGA Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Thursday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: A birdie in the first hole – now that's a good omen – as Mirabel Ting got off to a brilliant start in her first pro golf outing on home soil at the Maybank Championship.
Mirabel's deft putting touch kept her high on the leaderboard as she looks to maintain her momentum heading into the second round of the home meet at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.
The 20-year-old got off on the right foot, carding an opening round 67 to sit joint 11th with five-under.
The leading golfer out of five Malaysians in the field, Mirabel said keeping a calm demeanour on the course was key for her to push through the first round.
"I had a really good start, I birdied the first hole," said Mirabel.
"But I just tried to tell myself to stay patient. If the putt drops, it will. If not, just keep calm.
"That’s what I did the entire round and played really well."
The level-headed mindset saw the newly-turned pro’s only blemish being a bogey on the sixth hole, but things worked out for her afterwards as she went on to have an error-free game.
"I have made a lot of mistakes in the past, and when I start bogeying, I get really nervous.
"Here comes the bogey brain. "But after that, I know I have to let it go, which I did. I had a couple of birdies coming in. "That’s the way I played," she said.
There is pressure and a lot of expectations playing her first LPGA home event as a professional but Mirabel said: "I kind of put everything aside and try not to think too much about it. The only opponent against me on the tee is me.
"Whether amateur or professional, you’re still hitting the ball by yourself. "So that doesn’t make a difference, and I always keep that in mind," said Mirabel.
With three days of golf to go, Mirabel knows being close to the top 10 can change at any moment, but hopes to keep her stride heading into the weekend. It’s nice to feel that way, but there is a lot of game left to be played.
"There are 54 more holes to go, and I’m not trying to look at the leaderboard too much. Just focused on what I have to do on the course," she said.
Meanwhile, compatriot Liyana Durisic is just one stroke behind with four-under, while Kelly Tan sits in tied 32nd with three-under, together with Ashely Lau and Genevieve Ling.
