0163타 몰아치기 선전… 선두권 위협하는 류옌의 무서운 상승세
LPGA 투어 메이뱅크 챔피언십에 출전한 류옌이 폭발적인 타수 줄이기에 성공하며 단숨에 대회 우승 후보로 부상했다.
류옌은 완벽에 가까운 경기력을 선보이며 9언더파 63타를 기록, 리더보드 상단에 이름을 올리고 본격적인 선두 다툼에 불을 붙였다.
정교한 샷과 날카로운 퍼팅감을 바탕으로 코스를 지배한 류옌이 남은 라운드에서도 기세를 이어가 우승 트로피를 차지할 수 있을지 관심이 쏠리고 있다.
02Original (English) — LPGA
Yan Liu of China reacts after chipping in a third shot for eagle from the 18th fairway to finish play during the third round of the Maybank Championship 2026 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on October 31, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jennifer Meyer is the Manager of Digital Operations. Jennifer has worked with the LPGA for more than a decade, working with the LPGA and Epson Tours to manage, develop, maintain, and update website content.
Yan Liu capped her third round in style with an eagle on the final hole Saturday, firing a 9-under-par 63 to put herself squarely in contention at the Maybank Championship.
Liu sits at 16-under 200 after 54 holes, two strokes behind tournament leader Miyu Yamashita. She is tied for second place alongside Pauline Roussin-Bouchard heading into Sunday's final round.
"What a finish. What a day for me," Liu said following her round. "The last hole was driver — I think actually I miss a little bit actually, in the rough, then layup to the number, was 84 pin."
Facing a tricky distance for her third shot, Liu relied on complete trust in her club selection and her caddie's read.
"Then I kind of between my club, like 60 or 54. I picked the one, it's the full swing," she said. "My caddie give my 100 percent confidence, so I just go for it."
Liu's stellar 63 matched her career-low 18-hole score on the LPGA Tour, duplicating her first-round effort at the 2025 JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro. Her Saturday charge featured precision ball-striking as she hit 6 of 14 fairways, reached 16 of 18 greens in regulation, and needed just 26 putts.
"I just really enjoy today," Liu said. "I focus my game. I think my swing is on very good position and my putting on fire today to be honest. Yeah, really happy for my putter, and I hope tomorrow it's same."
Despite carding a flurry of birdies and the closing eagle, Liu admitted she lost track of her score amidst the momentum until she reached the scoring area.
"Even though — even when I finish I don't know what score I shoot today," Liu said. "I just ask my caddie, 'What score I have today?' He said 9-under. Well, I'm very surprised, too, yeah."
The Epson Tour graduate, playing in her fourth season on the LPGA Tour, is chasing her first career tour victory. Her previous best finishes this season include a tie for third at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give and a tie for fourth at The Chevron Championship.
"One shot at a time. Just live in the present. Don't think about the result."