Roussin-Bouchard’s 64 Takes Maybank Championship Lead

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard birdied her final three holes Thursday to shoot an eight-under 64 and take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.

Sophia Schubert and defending champion Miyu Yamashita both opened with 65s. Perrine Delacour and Charley Hull were another stroke back at six under, keeping the top of the leaderboard tightly grouped.

The course and opening-round leaderboard

The LPGA’s official leaderboard lists the tournament at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course from October 29 through November 1. Thursday’s scores establish the opening-round positions, with three rounds remaining.

Roussin-Bouchard’s late run supplied the separation. Her closing birdies took her from the chasing group into the outright lead, leaving Schubert and Yamashita one stroke away rather than sharing first place.

The French player is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory. She joined the tour in 2022 and has three career top-10 finishes, according to the Associated Press round report.

Schubert has the same tour-entry year and is also searching for a first LPGA win. Yamashita brings recent success at this event, having won the previous edition after a three-player playoff.

The nearest challengers and remaining rounds

Hull also finished strongly, birdieing two of her last three holes. Her 66 kept her within two shots of Roussin-Bouchard, alongside Delacour in the group tied for fourth.

Haeran Ryu withdrew before her opening tee time for an undisclosed reason. Her absence removed the highest-ranked player in the field, with Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul also not participating.

The leaderboard leaves the leader with only a small margin entering Friday. A one-shot gap can disappear on a single hole, and the completed opening round does not establish how the remaining rounds will unfold.

The tournament continues through Sunday before the LPGA’s Asian swing concludes with the Toto Japan Classic. Roussin-Bouchard’s immediate task is to build on the finish that gave her Thursday’s lowest score.