Miyu Yamashita wins Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur playoff

Miyu Yamashita of Japan won the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, prevailing in a playoff after finishing the regulation 72 holes tied at 18 under par with HyeJin Choi of South Korea and Hannah Green of Australia. The 24 year old carded a seven under 65 in the final round to join the leaders, and sealed the title with a playoff birdie after heavy rain and lightning briefly halted play late in the day.

The three-way tie at 270 followed a dramatic final round at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, where an hourlong suspension for dangerous weather interrupted momentum among the frontrunners and delayed the playoff. Yamashita, who captured the AIG Women’s Open in August, took home the winner’s cheque of about US$450,000 as the tournament concluded the LPGA Tour’s five week Asian swing.

Choi began the week in command, leading after each of the first three rounds and entering Sunday with a four stroke advantage at 19 under. The 26 year old, seeking her first LPGA victory after multiple close calls, struggled to sustain the pace in the final round and carded a one over 73 to fall back into the tie. Through 2025 she has compiled 28 career top 10 finishes and was runner up...