Mao Saigo leads, Florida State junior Mirabel Ting of Malaysia opens with 67 in LPGA debut

Mirabel Ting won’t ever hide her first information connected nan LPGA. The Florida State inferior opened pinch a 5-under 67 astatine nan Maybank Championship connected location ungraded successful Malaysia. Ting, nan only amateur successful nan field, trails leader Mao Saigo by 4 shots aft nan Japanese rookie opened pinch a superb 9-under 63 that see 1 bogey.

“Shooting 5 nether connected this challenging play people is thing that I would ne'er thought I would beryllium capable to do it successful beforehand of a large crowd,” said Ting, a two-time victor already this autumn for nan Seminoles. Ting presently ranks eighth successful nan World Amateur Golf Ranking.

A rookie has yet to triumph connected nan LPGA this season, but Saigo sits atop nan Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of nan Year standings connected nan spot of 7 top-10 finishes.

“I made a batch of mediate magnitude putt,” said nan 23-year-old Saigo, “so that’s why I play really well.”

Saigo has a brace of runner-up finishes successful 2024 astatine nan CPKC Women’s Open and nan Buick LPGA Shanghai. She’s a six-time victor connected nan JLPGA.

South Korea’s Haeran Ryu sits unsocial successful 2nd spot successful Malaysia. This is Ryu’s 31st information successful nan 60s this season. (Saigo leads nan circuit pinch 33.) She was 1 of 5 players to station a bogey-free information astatine Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club connected Thursday, joining Wei-Ling Hsu, Celine Boutier, Hye-Jin Choi and Gaby Lopez.

“I don’t retrieve my play coming because coming my assemblage feels not good,” said Ryu, “so I conscionable want a bully finish.”