Fast start propels Mao Saigo into lead at Maybank Championship

Mao Saigo carded six birdies over her first eight holes and finished with a 9-under-par 63 on Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Saigo collected 10 birdies to offset her lone bogey on the par-4 17th hole at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. The Japanese native also hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens.

"I made a lot of middle-length putts so that's why I played so well," Saigo said. "There is so much strong up and down play required, so it's very difficult."

Saigo is chasing her first win on the LPGA Tour.

Haeran Ryu of South Korea recorded eight birdies during a bogey-free round to reside one stroke in back of Saigo.

Ryu was pleased with her performance considering she admitted to not feeling her best.

"I don't remember my play today because today my body feels not good, so I just want a good finish," Ryu said. "Yeah, 8-under is pretty good. Today my putter is good, better than last week. Yeah, I make a lot of birdie. I'm so happy."

Taipei's Wei-Ling Hsu and China's Ruixin Liu finished at 7-under to sit tied for third place. Hsu had seven birdies during her bogey-free round, while Liu had eight birdies against one bogey.

The duo rests one stroke ahead of a six-golfer contingent that includes reigning Women's PGA Championship winner Amy Yang.

"I personally prefer this warmer weather over cold one, because cold one makes me stiff during the round," Yang said. "But also I mean, we used to play east course and I love that course, yeah. But this course is also great and I am really looking forward to play three more rounds."

Defending champion Celine Boutier shot a bogey-free round en route to carding a 5-under 67 to sit in a tie for 11th place. She outlasted Jeeno Thitikul in a nine-hole playoff in 2023 to win the inaugural Maybank Championship.

Canadian Brooke Henderson shot a 3-under 69 on Thursday, two strokes ahead of Hannah Green. The Australian is aiming to ride the momentum of her third victory of 2024 and sixth career win last week in South Korea into a strong showing in Malaysia.

--Field Level Media