Yamashita Miyu enters the final round holding a two-stroke lead. [Photo=LPGA]
Yamashita Miyu enters the final round holding a two-stroke lead. [Photo=LPGA]

Yamashita Miyu of Japan holds a two-stroke lead at the Maybank Championship, an LPGA Tour event with a $3 million purse.

Yamashita carded a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday (Korean Standard Time) in the third round at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club's West Course (par 72) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, moving to 18 under par (198) and opening a two-stroke gap over joint second-place Liu Yan of China and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France.

Liu surged into a share of second place with a 9-under-par 63. Through 17 holes, Liu had collected nine birdies against two bogeys for a 7-under card, then holed out for eagle on the par-5 18th to a warm ovation from the gallery.

Yamashita had opened with rounds of 7-under 65 and 6-under 66 to take an early lead, and kept the momentum going on moving day with six birdies and one bogey to post a 5-under 67, setting up a final-round start two strokes clear of the field.

Yamashita won this event last year in a playoff against Choi Hye-jin and Hannah Green of Australia, making birdie on the first extra hole, and is now chasing back-to-back titles.

In last year's final round, Yamashita began eight strokes behind leader Choi but fired a bogey-free, 7-birdie round to force a playoff and claim the title. Choi, meanwhile, stumbled to a 1-over-par 73, surrendering the lead and ultimately settling for a share of second place.

Among South Korean players, Kang Min-ji and Kim A-rim sit highest on the leaderboard. Kang fired a 7-under 65 to reach 11 under par (205) for the tournament, joining Kim — who posted a 1-under round — in a tie for ninth. Kang had an eagle and six birdies through 17 holes before a bogey on the 18th took some shine off the round.

Joo Su-bin shot a 4-under 68 to reach 10 under par (206), placing in a tie for 13th alongside Yang Hee-young, Lottie Woad of England and Carlota Ciganda of Spain.

Choi Hye-jin carded three birdies and one bogey for a 2-under round, moving to 9 under par (207) and into a tie for 18th with Charley Hull of England, Yin Ruoning of China and Celine Boutier of France. Trailing Yamashita by nine strokes, Choi's chances of a title appear slim.


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