Thailand’s Jasmine Suwannapura fired a career-low 63 on Thursday and owns the outright lead at the inaugural Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hannah Green of Australia is one shot back at 8-under with five players tied for third: Rose Zhang, Linn Grant of Sweden, Peiyun Chien of Taiwan, Gina Kim and Grace Kim of Australia all shot 65.
Steamy conditions greeting the golfers Thursday morning before play was suspended at 1:53 p.m. only to resume after a three-hour, 48-minute weather delay. Thirty-two players failed to complete the first round before play stopped due to darkness.
Suwannapura went off in the first group off the tee and played a bogey-free round highlighted by seven birdies and an eagle on the par-4 14th. Three other players eagled the drivable hole, and 44 carded a birdie.
“First couple holes I try to play kind of little safe, on safe side, because I only play six holes for the practice round and get to walk on the back nine on pro-am day on the cart path, so I don’t really know the course,” Suwannapura said. “I feel like with low expectation today then the result come out really good. A lot of putts drop for me, and it’s good feeling to start with a low score this week for sure.”
The two-time PGA winner has the first-round lead or co-leader position for the third time in her career. She hit every fairway (14 of 14) in regulation.
“Every single shot, even par-5, it’s either go for it or layup. It’s very narrow so everything have to be perfect here to have a chance to make birdies here,” she said.
Green sank her final birdie of the day at the 18th just before the threat of lightning prompted the lengthy delay.
Green said she was thinking “I really don’t want to be stuck on the putting green with who knows how long of a delay. So it was nice for that putt to fall in, and obviously in good position for the tournament.”
–Field Level Media