Japan’s Miyu Yamashita claims her first LPGA Tour title in a playoff at the Maybank Championship. Valenzuela finishes T49.
The final day of the LPGA Tour’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia ended in dramatic fashion with a playoff. Miyu Yamashita of Japan, Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea, and Hannah Green of Australia all finished the tournament at 18-under-par after 72 holes. Yamashita opened with a strong 66 on Thursday, followed by rounds of 70 and 69. On Sunday, she delivered a flawless 65 with seven birdies to stay atop the leaderboard. Choi had been consistent through the first three rounds but faltered on the final day with a 73, including three bogeys and only two birdies. Green remained just under par each day but couldn’t avoid mistakes that kept her from securing the solo lead.
The trio entered a playoff, and Yamashita clinched the win on the first extra hole with a par. Both Choi and Green made bogeys, settling for a shared second place. The victory marks Yamashita’s first career win on the LPGA Tour.
Maybank Championship: Valenzuela Finishes Inside Top 50
Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela, the only DACH-region player in the field, benefited from the no-cut format of the exclusive Maybank Championship. She opened with rounds of 74 and 71 before improving slightly with a 69 on Saturday. On the final day, Valenzuela carded a 71, which included five birdies, a double bogey, and two bogeys. Her performance earned her a T49 finish and moved her up one spot to 102nd in the LPGA season rankings.