Yamashita seals second LPGA crown

Japan’s Miyu Yamashita produced a stunning finish to capture the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Maybank Championship title in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, defeating South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Australia’s Hannah Green in a tense three-way playoff.

The 24-year-old, who won the Women’s British Open earlier this year, sealed her second career title with a birdie on the first extra hole. Her victory caps a remarkable debut season on the LPGA Tour, marked by consistency and calm under pressure.

Yamashita fired a brilliant final-round 65, the joint-lowest of the day to reach 18-under 270 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. She surged up the leaderboard as Choi, the overnight leader by four shots, faltered with missed putts down the stretch.

Choi, still searching for her maiden LPGA win despite 29 top-10 finishes, once again fell short after leading into the final round. Green, fresh from Australia’s triumph at the International Crown, carded a 68 that featured seven birdies and three bogeys, including a crucial birdie on the 18th to join the playoff.

World No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul (68) shared fourth place at 17-under alongside China’s Liu Yan (65), Japan’s Akie Iwai (67), and South Koreans A Lim Kim (68) and Kim Sei-Young (66).

A mid-round rain delay briefly halted play, adding to the pressure on the leaders. The playoff, too, was delayed by another shower before Yamashita held her nerve to triumph.

Defending champion Yin Ruoning (70) finished tied 12th at 14-under, while Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70) ended in 27th place.

The LPGA Tour now heads to Shiga, Japan, for the final event of its five-week Asian swing, the Japan Classic.