Charley Hull Two Strokes Behind Leader in Malaysia

The opening round of the LPGA Maybank Championship was played at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Frenchwoman Pauline Roussin-Bouchard birdied the last three holes to shoot 8 under 64 and moved into sole possession of the lead by one stroke.

Roussin-Bouchard joined the LPGA Tour in 2022. She has yet to win a tour event but has finished in the top 10 three times. American Sophia Schubert shot 65 and is in second place alongside Miyu Yamashita. Yamashita won the Malaysian tournament last year after a three-way playoff.

Another Frenchwoman, Perrine Delacour, shot 66 and is tied for fourth with Charley Hull. Hull birdied two of the last three holes. South Korean Haeran Ryu withdrew from the tournament before the first round tee times for an undisclosed reason. In the absence of Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, she was the highest-ranked player in the field.

Last week, Yuri Yoshida won the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea. She became the fourth Japanese player to win on the LPGA this season. A monitor lizard about 3 meters long was also seen eating a small animal by a lake on the course. The tour will complete its Asian swing next week with the Toto Japan Classic near Tokyo.