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Ruoning Yin earns slim victory in Kuala Lumpur

olympic games27 October 2024 14:45| © Reuters
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Ruoning Yin birdied the 18th hole to post a final-round 65 and take a one-stroke victory at the Maybank Championship on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Her 23-under 265 after four rounds broke the tournament scoring record and gave Yin her third victory of 2024 and second in the three starts.

She also won the Buick LPGA Shanghai in her native China two weeks ago.

Yin entered the day tied at 16-under with Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Haeran Ryu of South Korea, and all three kept the pressure on immediately with birdies on the first hole.

By the time the trio made the turn, Yin was up by one stroke at 20-under, with Ryu at 19-under and Thitikul another stroke back.

The no-bogey round continued for Yin, who birdied holes 10 and 12 to move to 22 under, but Thitikul and Ryu tried to keep pace at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

A bogey at 17 left Ryu two strokes behind Yin at 20-under as the trio moved to the 18th hole. Thitikul birdied the par-5 hole to go to 22-under, putting the pressure on Yin to sink her putt to win and avoid a playoff.

She did.

"I would say that was a really tough battle out there, and Haeran and Jeeno, they are really, really good and they just bring the best version of myself. I would say today the key for me is to be patient," Yin said.

"I had a really good start on the front nine and kind of just like yesterday, slow down a little bit after 12. I have a lot of birdie chances on 14, 15, and 16, even 17. So when I missed on 16 green, David my caddie told me, ‘You're doing good. Just be patient. Putts will drop.' So I'm really happy that I stayed patient."

She joined Shanshan Feng, the winningest golfer from China, in posting a victory in Kuala Lumpur. Feng did it in 2014 and 2016.

"I saw her picture on the way to the locker and I know she won in 2016," said Yin, who won $450 000 for her effort.

"I'm just literally thinking about if I'm able to join her, the second Chinese player (to) win in Malaysia, and I'm happy to do that."

'GAVE 100 PER CENT OUT THERE'

Thitikul shot a 66 and Ryu a 67.

Thitikul finished in second place at the Maybank Championship in 2023, too, after losing a nine-hole playoff to Celine Boutier of France.

She said she gave her best effort on Sunday.

"It's all what I can do, you know. I did give 100 per cent out there. You know, in the back nine toward the end I really, really give it," she said.

"But in another way I just like I think it's just a good practicing final round for me as well. I mean, [Yin] did really incredible job. I think for the past three days she doesn't have any bogey at all. That's why we give it all to her."

Bailey Tardy carded a 65 on Sunday to finish 16-under and tied for fourth with second-round leader Maja Stark of Sweden(70).

Defending champion Boutier recorded a 72 to finish at 12-under and in a tie for 12th.

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