After losing last year’s 9-hole play-off, Jeeno Thitikul is co-leader in the Maybank final

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Jeeno Thitikul lost a lengthy playoff at the LPGA Tour’s 2023 Maybank Championship. On Saturday, she shot an 8-under 64 to leave her tied for the lead after three rounds and with a chance to win the tournament this year at all.

The Thai player had a three-round total of 16-under 200 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course. She was tied with Ruoning Yin (66) and Haeran Ryu (67) going into Sunday’s final round.

Last year, Thitikul lost to Celine Boutier from France in a play-off. The two players finished in a tie for first place at 21 under par, after which they played a nine-hole play-off, which the French player won. The playoff tied for the second-longest in LPGA Tour history.

“Honestly, it was a heavenly week,” Thitikul said on Saturday. “You know, KL (Kuala Lumpur) is close to Thailand and I feel like it’s a second home here. All the fans cheering here, it’s really fun and great to be here. And then the golf course, one of my favorites so far.”

Second-round leader Maja Stark shot 70 and was in fourth place, two behind the leaders. Defending champion Boutier was four strokes behind Thitikul after a 68 and finished in a shared fifth place with the American Marina Alex (71).

“Obviously it’s good to have memories and stuff, but I also know I have to focus on what I’m doing and I feel like this course ranks pretty well so you have to go out there and be aggressive,” Boutier said .

Hannah Green, who scored her third win of 2024 and sixth of her career last week in South Korea, shot a 68 and was at 8 under, eight strokes behind. She was tied with Brooke Henderson, who shot 66 on Saturday.