Yamashita Holds Two-Shot Lead at Maybank Classic
The defending champion leads after two rounds in Kuala Lumpur, with Lopez Ramirez and Roussin-Bouchard chasing four strokes back.
By Jason Wood ·
Miyu Yamashita sits two strokes ahead of the field after two rounds of the LPGA Tour’s Maybank Classic in Malaysia. The world No. 4 carded a 6-under 66 on Friday to reach 13-under 131 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Yamashita won last year’s edition of this tournament after a three-way playoff. She also captured the 2025 Women’s British Open.
Julia Lopez Ramirez and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard share second place, four shots back. Lopez Ramirez hit three birdies in her final four holes to finish with a 66. Roussin-Bouchard had led by one stroke after the first round.
Lopez Ramirez cited the local weather in her preparation for the weekend. She told reporters to keep the mind cool and the body hydrated in the high humidity typical for Kuala Lumpur.
Charley Hull is tied for fifth, four strokes behind the leader. She made five birdies in her first six holes but bogeyed two of her last three to finish with a 69.
Haeran Ryu withdrew before Thursday’s first round due to a strained finger ligament. She injured the ligament while riding in a golf cart during the Wednesday pro-am. Ryu had won two majors this season at the Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship.
The tournament field lacked the top two ranked players, Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul. Yoshida Yoshida is at 5-under after shooting a 70 on Friday. She follows her recent win at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, which marked the fourth Japanese victory on the tour this season.
The LPGA’s Asian swing concludes next week with the Toto Japan Classic at Omitama outside Tokyo.
Source: La Voz de Houston
