KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 69 golfers, including 24 Malaysians, will vie for five coveted spots in the prestigious Maybank Championship through its 36-hole Asean Qualifier, which tees off Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
The two-day battle will determine who joins the elite 78-woman field for the third edition of the Maybank Championship, scheduled from Oct 30-Nov 2.
Offering US$3 million (RM12.7 million) in prize money, it is the richest LPGA Tour stop in Asia.
Top Malaysian names such as Maybank ambassador Kelly Tan, national No. 1 Ashley Lau, newly-turned professional Mirabel Ting and Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Jeneath Wong are expected to secure their places via sponsor invitations.
However, the qualifier, open exclusively to players from the Southeast Asian region, gives the host nation a chance to further boost its representation.
Among the notable Malaysians chasing qualification are Liyana Durisic, Genevieve Ling, Aretha Pan, Ng Jing Xuen and Winnie Ng.
Last year, Liyana and Nur Durriyah Damian successfully battled their way through the qualifier to make the main event.
Liyana, currently the national No. 2, is aiming for back-to-back appearances at KLGCC after an impressive season that saw her record top-10 finishes in all five of her starts on the Women’s Professional Golf of Australia Tour.
“Obviously, I think of good things when I come back here and I’m looking forward to qualifying again,” said Liyana, who finished 74th in last year’s Maybank Championship.
This year’s qualifier is more competitive, with the field more than doubling from last year’s 35 players to 69, including a strong 36-player contingent from Thailand — but Liyana is unfazed.
“There are more players in the field – more Thai players – and it’s a very strong field. I’m looking forward to the challenge and stepping up my game.
“I am hitting it good and hopefully I can continue the momentum into tomorrow,” she added.
Another strong local contender is Jing Xuen, the former SEA Games gold medallist who turned professional at just 16 last year.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a promising debut season on the China LPGA Tour, recording one top-10 and two top-20 finishes.
“I’m pretty excited about this week. I am managing my expectations and will try to enjoy my game. Compared to China, the golf course here is so much tougher. I have improved my iron shots and I’m looking to put it to test here,” said Jing Xuen.
“It’s a big deal for us this week. It’s a fascinating opportunity to get a chance to qualify for an LPGA tournament.
“Playing in the tournament proper in 2023 was such a great experience as I was 15 at that time. Playing alongside world-class players was great and I learned a lot. That’s my final dream (to get onto the LPGA).”
The Malaysian hopefuls will face stern competition from regional rivals, including eight players from Thailand, six from Indonesia, two from the Philippines and one from Singapore.
Among the returning are last year’s qualifiers Ida Ayu Indira Melati of Indonesia and Thailand’s Chayanit Wangmahaporn.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
