Last year’s runner-up Jeeno Thitikul shot an eight-under-par 64 on Saturday to surge into a three-way lead going into the final round of the LPGA Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
The 21-year-old Thai topped the leaderboard at 16-under at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club along with China’s Yin Ruoning and Ryu Hae-ran of South Korea.
They were two shots clear of overnight leader Maja Stark of Sweden.
Thitikul, second last year after losing a nine-hole playoff shootout to Celine Boutier of France, had an eagle at the par-five third hole.
She followed up with two consecutive birdies, before capping a bogey-free third round with three birdies in the final three holes.
“I just keep trying to make birdies, birdies, birdies because this course can give you a low score. So that’s all in my mind, to try to hole in the putts,” said Thitikul, who is searching for a fourth LPGA crown.
Yin is firmly in the mix for a fifth LPGA win thanks to a bogey-free 66 which saw her sink six birdies in a sharp display of putting.
“I think every part of my game is pretty spot-on. I was just feeling it with my putting and I made a couple of clutch putts today, which gives me a lot of confidence going into tomorrow,” said the 22-year-old.
Ryu, who has been in the mix since the first round, surged to the top after posting a bogey-free 67.
The 23-year-old shot five birdies, four of them on her front nine.
“Tomorrow I want to make some birdies in the last nine holes,” the South Korean said.
Defending champion Boutier was in a tie for fifth, four shots off the lead.
