KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Gemma Dryburgh’s first and solely LPGA Tour victory got here three years in the past in Japan. On Thursday, the 32-year-old Scotsman shot a seven-under 65 on the Maybank Traditional to bid for his second Asian title.
Dryburgh made her seventh birdie of the day on the 18th gap on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Nation Membership, placing her one stroke behind Choi Hye-jin’s first-round lead. Choi’s 64 included an eagle on the par-5 third gap and a birdie on the 18th.
Dryburgh tied for second place with Benedetta Moresco (Italy).
“It was a really stress-free spherical,” Dryburgh mentioned.
Though the humid and scorching local weather was very completely different from her native Scotland, her hometown of New Orleans in the USA, the place she attended Tulane, helped put together her for the state of affairs.
“It was very completely different to Scotland, however on days like at the moment it helps to stay the place I’m,” Ms Dryburgh mentioned. “I like that the greens are grainy and much like the place they play in New Orleans. So it fits my eye.”
The seven gamers who tied for fourth place with a time of 66 seconds, two strokes behind Choi, included Lydia Ko, Hannah Inexperienced, Ingrid Lindblad, Arpichaya Yubol, and Somi Lee.
Choi mentioned he made some good restoration pictures on Thursday to take the lead within the first spherical.
Choi mentioned, “There have been many conditions the place I nearly made bogey because of the tough and hazards, however I made plenty of good pars.”
Defending champion Ying Ruoning shot a 68, and world primary Gino Titikul additionally shot a 68.
Titikul is the one a number of winner on this yr’s LPGA Tour, successful on the Mizuho Americas Open in Could and in Shanghai about three weeks in the past, however he completed runner-up the final two occasions he performed in Malaysia.
“I really feel form of snug enjoying right here,” she mentioned earlier than the primary spherical. “The course, the climate, the followers, it seems like a second residence. It seems like a mini-Thailand.”
Final week, Australia gained the Worldwide Crown Staff occasion in South Korea. The LPGA concludes its five-week Asian swing subsequent week with the Japan Traditional in Shiga, the stage for Dryburgh’s 2022 championship.
