Leona Maguire finds herself 10 strokes off the pace at the LPGA’s Maybank Malaysia Open after an opening one-over 73 on a day where 54 of the 77 players broke par.
It’s been an up and down season for Maguire who’s struggled for consistency, but a birdie-birdie start was just what the doctor ordered. That was as good as it got, however, and after eight pars followed, a double bogey-six on the second – her 11th – undid the early good work, and she added a bogey on six to slip to +1 and ended the day tied for 66th.
Having come close to victory at the Buick LPGA Shanghai a fortnight ago, Japan’s Mao Saigo continues her rich vein of form and stormed to a nine-under 63 to take the first round lead. She birdied six of the opening nine holes on her way to an outward 30, and added four more to reach -10 through 16. A birdie-eagle finish would’ve given her a 59, but a bogey on 17 ended all hopes of that, but she’s still in pole position with a one-stroke lead over Korea’s Haeran Ryu.
China’s Ruixin Liu and Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Ling Hsu are one shot further adrift at -7, with Amy Yanf, Yuka Saso and Maja Stark among the six players tied for fifth at -6.
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