Rose Zhang, a rising star, shot her second 7-under 65 of the week on Saturday. She is now 18 under for the 54 holes and is alone in first place at the LPGA’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
Zhang started her third round with a par at the first hole at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Then she birdied holes one through four to get going. Zhang made it to the turn in 5 under par, with two more birdies at Nos. 7 and 9. Even though she made bogey on 14, she had a birdie on 10 and a bogey on 14. She finished her round with two more circles at 15 and 18.
Maybank: Full list of winners
“I feel great. “I just think it’s great to have this chance to go into the final round with a little bit of an edge,” Zhang told the press after signing her card.
“I think going forward I just need to make sure I’m having fun, have a plan, and enjoy every little thing.”
Zhang had a 0-3-1 record in her first Solheim Cup in Spain. In her last six starts, she has not finished in the top 25 (T-34 at the BMW Ladies Championship was her best finish). It would be her second LPGA win in 12 competitive starts if she wins.
Just one shot behind Zhang, Atthaya Thitikul and Jasmine Suwannapura are tied for second place at 17 under. Sei Young Kim is in fourth place by himself at 15 under. At 14 under, Nasa Hataoka, Megan Khang, and Peiyun Chien make up the rest of the top five.
