Defending champion Miyu Yamashita leaves no doubt about who's in charge in Kuala Lumpur, snatching the lead at the LPGA Maybank Championship after 36 holes. The world No. 4 is delivering a performance that is second to none: After an opening round of 65, she followed up with a bogey-free 66, putting her at an impressive 13 under par. This 131 total score gives her a solid two-shot lead.
The Chasers Close Behind
But the competition isn't sleeping! Spain's Julia López Ramírez and France's Pauline Roussin-Bouchard share second place, both at 11 under par. López Ramírez posted a strong 66, while first-round leader Roussin-Bouchard takes on the role of chaser with a round of 69. South Korea's A Lim Kim unleashed a true performance rocket, playing the best round of the day with an 8-under 64 – putting her at 10 under and in fourth place.
Yamashita on Track for Back-to-Back?
Charley Hull is also in the running at 9 under par, sharing fifth place. She started incredibly strong with five birdies on the first six holes, but unfortunately dropped two shots late. Miyu Yamashita has excellent chances to defend her 2025 title, where she prevailed in a thrilling playoff. Another triumph would further fuel the momentum of Japanese golf, as Yuri Yoshida already claimed the BMW Ladies Championship last week.
In total, Japanese golfers already have four LPGA victories this season – so things are going really well. The Maybank Championship is the third event in the LPGA's four-week Asia Swing, which concludes next week with the Toto Japan Classic. It definitely remains exciting, as there is no cut in this tournament – all players will also be competing over the weekend.
