Three players are tied for the lead heading into Sunday at the 2024 Maybank Championship. Jeeno Thitikul (21 years old), Ruoning Yin (22 years old) and Haeran Ryu (23 years old) are tied at 16-under par with a 54-hole total of 200. Each player has at least one victory in 2024, and they all return to Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Sunday in hopes of hoisting yet another trophy this season.

The round of the day goes to Thitikul, who shot a third-round 64 to move from a tie in ninth to a tie for first place. She opened her round with two pars before kickstarting her day with an eagle on the par-5 3rd hole. The Thai player proceeded to make back-to-back birdies on holes 4 and 5, and picked up another birdie on No. 9 to make the turn at five-under par. She had a string of pars on holes 10 through 15 and birdied each of her last three holes to card an eight-under 64, tying for the lowest 18-hole score at the 2024 Maybank Championship.

“Was good. Couldn't ask for better,” said Thitikul on her day. “I mean, like I have been in contention week in, week out, and then what I focus for about, it's just like trying to do better every day no matter any people going to do. But like today is the day I really enjoy playing and everything went so well.”

Thitikul is no stranger to this tournament and the pressure of being in contention. At last year’s Maybank Championship, she tied with Celine Boutierfor first place, and proceeded to participate in a nine-hole playoff where she was ultimately defeated by Boutier. Just this season, Thitikul has wracked up 10 top-10 finishes including a victory at the Dow Championship with partner Ruoning Yin. In Thitikul’s last five starts on the LPGA Tour, she has finished in the top-10 each time and she is currently in the lead for the 2024 Vare Trophy, given to the player with the lowest scoring average throughout the season.

Yin shot a third-round 66 to accompany Thitikul in Sunday’s final grouping. Her round started similar to Thitikul’s, with two pars on the first two holes before things picked up. Yin made four consecutive birdies on holes 3 through 6 to jump to four-under par. She made par on each of her next seven holes before making a birdie on the par-4 14th hole and a birdie on the last hole, No. 18.

“I think I had a hot start today and just made a couple putts on the front nine, and then I slowed down a little bit from -- start from 7, 7 to 13 I think,” said Yin. “I just left myself really like a lot of birdie chances but couldn't make it until 14. My caddie, David, he told me, be patient. Just do what you're doing and a birdie will come. I'm really happy that I had a great finish there.”

One of 2024’s multiple-time winners, Yin is looking to grab her second victory in her last three starts. Two weeks ago, Yin picked up a win in her home country at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, and also won the Dow Championship in June with her partner, Thitikul.

The last of the three to sign her scorecard, Ryu carded a 67 on Saturday to join Thitikul and Yin at the top of the leaderboard. The 2023 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year carded two sets of birdies on holes 2 and 3, as well as on holes 7 and 8 to sit at four-under through her first nine holes. Her back nine was consistent and she made eight birdies and just one birdie on the par-4 17th.

“I'm really exciting (for) the last group in the final round,” said Ryu, who is looking forward to the final-round grouping. “Yeah, but another players is really good these days, but, yeah, I just try to focus my golf and just work hard. But another players get a win, and I just celebrate that.”

Ryu already has one win in 2024, the inaugural FM Championship, and 10 additional top-10 finishes. In three of her last four starts, she has finished in the top 10.

Swede Maja Stark sits two shots behind Thitikul, Yin and Ryu at 14-under par. Her third-round putting kept her in contention as she had 13 one putts and a total of 25 putts en route to a two-under par 70 on Saturday. Defending champion Boutier and LPGA Tour veteran Marina Alex are tied for fifth at 12-under par.

Young Stars Tied for Lead Going Into Final Round at Maybank Championship

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