Yamashita the first to retain Maybank crown, fastest Japanese to reach five LPGA Tour titles

Cheers to you!: Miyu Yamashita (centre) is sprayed with water after winning the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan’s Miyu Yamashita lived up on her promise to deliver by holding off China’s long-hitting Yan Liu to become the first golfer to win back-to-back titles in the Maybank Championship at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

The world No. 4 closed with a composed four-under 68 on the West Course to finish at 22-under 266, thus securing the coveted Tiger Trophy for the second time and picking up a big paycheque of US$450,000 (RM1.96 mil).

The two-shot win made Yamashita, at 25, the fastest Japanese golfer to reach five LPGA Tour titles.

But it was far from a comfortable afternoon for Yamashita, who faced relentless pressure from Yan Liu, whose power off the tee and aggressive approach kept the pressure on the defending champion.

It is the third LPGA title this year for Yamashita following victories at the Meijer LPGA Classic and CPKC Women’s Open.

“I’m just really happy and I honestly didn’t expect to be able to win it two years in a row,” said Yamshita.

“Today was an especially tough round for me.

“Yan Liu hits the ball with so much power and distance. She was making birdies early and hitting aggressive shots. I felt like I couldn’t let my guard down for a single moment until the final putt dropped on the 18th.”

Yan Liu, who lit up Saturday’s third round with a tournament-best nine-under 63, challenged the Japanese with a matching four-under 68 in the final round.

“This is my first time in the final group.

‘‘I did pretty good. Still under par, so I’m pretty happy,” said Yan Liu, who came in second at 20-under 268 to collect US$273,806 (RM1.19 mil).

France’s Pauline Roussin-Bouchard finished tied for third at 19-under 269 after a final-round 69, earning US$176,140 (RM768,000).

 

FINAL RESULTS

266: Miyu Yamashita (Jpn) 65-66-67-68;

268: Yan Liu (Chn) 69-68-63-68;

269: Marisa Tojai (Tha) amateur 72-65-65-67, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (Fra) 64-69-67-69;

271: Robyn Choi (Aus) 67-69-66-69;

272: Achiraya Sriwong 68-72-67-65;

273: Kim A-lim (Kor) 70-64-71-68;

274: Zhang Weiwei (Chn) 71-71-65-67;

275: Esther Henseleit (Ger) 70-71-67-67, Aki Iwai (Jpn) 68-71-69-67, Nataliya Guseva (Una) 68-69-71-67, Celine Boutier (Fra) 69-69-69-68, Karis Davidson (Aus) 70-67-70-68, Choi Hye-jin (Kor) 67-70-70-68, Charley Hull (Eng) 66-69-72-68, Amy Yang (Kor) 68-67-71-69, Arpichaya Yubol (Tha) 67-72-66-70, Yuri Yoshida (Jpn) 69-70-66-70, Julia Lopez Ramirez (Spa) 67-66-71-71;

276: Hwang You-min (Kor) 67-70-73-66;

277: Sophia Schubert (US) 65-70-71-71, Kang Min-ji (Kor) 68-72-65-77, Perrine Delacour (Fra) 66-71-67-73;

278: Pajaree Anannarukarn (Tha) 72-73-65-68, Carla Tejedo (Spa) 72-69-69-68, Aditi Ashok (Ind) 70-68-66-74;

279: Lucy Li (US) 74-72-67-66, Hannah Green (Aus) 74-71-66-68, Yin Ruoning (Chn) 68-70-69-72, Carlota Ciganda (Spa) 73-63-70-73;

Selected

283: Mirabel Ting (Mas) 75-68-69-71;

286: Natasha Andrea Oon (Mas) 74-71-70-71;

290: Liyana Durisic (Mas) 67-73-76-74;

294: Kelly Tan (Mas) 76-70-74-74;

297: Genevieve Ling (Mas) 74-76-75-72.