LPGA Golf: Yamashita leads Maybank Classic after two rounds
The 2025 Women's British Open winner holds a two-stroke advantage in Kuala Lumpur before the tournament's final two days.
By Charles Reed ·
Miyu Yamashita holds a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA Tour's Maybank Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The world No. 4 player and defending champion finished Friday with a 6-under 66, bringing her total to 13-under 131 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.
Yamashita won the previous edition of this tournament in 2025 following a three-way playoff. She is the first Japanese player to secure a lead at this event since her 2025 victory. The course conditions presented high humidity, which players said required careful physical management during play.
Julia Lopez Ramirez and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard are tied for second place. Lopez Ramirez birdied three of her final four holes to shoot a 66. Roussin-Bouchard held a one-stroke lead after the first round. Lopez Ramirez said she tries to keep her mind cool and her body hydrated to handle the local weather.
Charley Hull is tied for fifth, four strokes behind the leader. She recorded five birdies in her first six holes but bogeyed two of her final three holes to finish Friday with a 69. Haeran Ryu, who won the Women's PGA Championship and Evian Championship this year, withdrew before her first round. She suffered a strained finger ligament while riding in a golf cart during the Wednesday pro-am.
The tournament continues with the final two rounds. Next week, the LPGA's late-season Asian swing concludes with the Toto Japan Classic at Omitama outside Tokyo. The Maybank Classic marks the final stop in this four-week regional series before players return to other tour events.
