Rianne Malixi exploded with a course record-setting nine-under 63, jumping from a share of 11th to solo second but Chun-Wei Wu maintained her dominance with a solid 66 in the third round of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Pattaya, Thailand Saturday.
Though Wu remained firmly entrenched at the top with an 18-under 198 for a commanding four-stroke lead, Malixi’s brilliant round that featured an eagle on No. 10 and seven birdies stirred up play in the eventful day, reminiscent of her backdoor victory in Australia last month.
While she managed to trim Wu’s overnight seven-shot lead, the 16-year-old Filipina, who pooled a 54-hole aggregate of 14-under 202, acknowledges the need for another extraordinary performance in the final round to secure another improbable title.
Despite her record feat, Malixi remains grounded while mentioning the crucial role her iron play played in her solid game, describing it as the key to her success.
“Honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet but I feel very grateful and honored,” said Malixi.
“It was pretty simple, I was just very consistent throughout the round,” said the ICTSI-backed ace, who also overhauled a four-stroke deficit in the final round to snare the Australian Master of the Amateurs crown last month.
“My iron play was phenomenal, it made things a lot easier. I think that was the key,” she added.
But Wu proved as solid and steady, putting in a flawless six-under card. From a shaky overnight two-shot lead over Hinano Muguruma of Japan, the Taiwanese pulled away with back-to-back opening birdies then gunned down two more on Nos. 6 and 7.
As Malixi threatened to within three in the closing holes, Wu remained unfazed, birdying Nos. 15 and 17, to finish with a 32-34 for a four-shot cushion and closer to a dream championship.
“My irons were better than in the second round. I was a little bit nervous but I told myself I could do it,” said Wu, who puts a premium on putting a key to her title drive.
With a huge lead, the 19-year-old, way down at No. 264 in the women’s amateur ranking compared to Malixi’s No. 42 standing, hints at the same game plan she has employed all week.
“Focus on my putting,” she said.
After a 70-69, Malixi remained outside looking in at joint 11th, seven shots off Wu. But she turned the water-laced course upside down with her near-flawless shotmaking, iron play and putting. She rattled off four birdies at the front, including three-straight from No. 5, then marked her backside run with a pitch from 70 yards for an eagle on the par-5 No. 10 and a birdie on the next.
Expressing her comfort with the course, Malixi said: “This course really fits my eye. It’s really a draw-bias course, so it works in my favor.”
“But I really think good iron play is such a huge key to this week. Hopefully, the putts will drop, that’s my main focus (in the final round).”
With an accent on good iron play, Malixi maintains a simple and focused approach, taking one shot at a time.
Meanwhile, Chinese Yahui Zhang also shot a 66 to tie Korean Hyoson Lee, who carded a 67, at third at 203, Thai Pimpisa Rubrong put in a third straight 68 for solo fifth at 204, while Aussie Justice Bosio sizzled with a 65 to tie Korean Hyojin Yang, who made a 68, at sixth at 206.
While the rest of the field seems distant from mounting a serious challenge, world No. 4 Minsol Kim of Korea shot a 68 for a share of eighth at 207 with Thais Novaporn Soontreeyapas and Achiraya Sriwong, who matched 69s.
In a remarkable feat, Soontreeyapas scored a hole-in-one on the 157-yard No. 16 worth a Galaxy S24 Ultra, just two days after acing No. 7, earning her a Galaxy S24 Ultra.
“It’s amazing, I can’t believe it,” said the Thai.
Grace Quintanilla shot herself in the foot with a 75 as she dropped to joint 40th at 217 while Alethea Gaccion fell to a share of 48th in a surviving field of 52, also after a three-over round for a 220.
Last year’s winner Eila Galitsky of Thailand hardly recovered from a disastrous second-round 75 with a 72 as she stayed way off the pace at 214 for a share of 29th.
Muruguma fumbled with a 76 and fell to joint 15th at 210.