{"id":1247897,"date":"2023-10-28T17:18:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T17:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/?p=1247897"},"modified":"2023-10-29T18:32:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T18:32:24","slug":"maybank-championship-2023-r3-rose-zhang-takes-54-hole-lead-in-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/maybank-championship-2023-r3-rose-zhang-takes-54-hole-lead-in-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Rose Zhang takes 54-hole lead in Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rookie sensation Rose Zhang will hold the second overnight lead of her LPGA Tour career after fighting for the top spot on Saturday at the Maybank Championship.<\/p>\n

The American set three new career-low scores on the LPGA Tour at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Her Thursday and Saturday 65s are new career-low rounds on Tour, her two day score of 133 is a new 36-hole record for the rookie and her 54-hole total of 198 is another new low. With one day left to play in Malaysia, she will look to continue the trend and earn her second LPGA Tour victory in just her 12th start this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel really great. I just feel like being able to have this opportunity to come into the final round with a little bit of a lead is really great,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that going forward it’s just making sure I’m having fun, having that game plan, and enjoying every single moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/parone-video-block>\n

Zhang\u2019s third-round lead was not easily earned. She battled the 100-degree heat and humidity and her playing partner Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand, who held both the first- and second-round lead. The two matched each other nearly shot-for-shot from the start. Suwannapura made three birdies in a row on holes 1, 2 and 3 while Zhang had a streak of her own on No. 2, 3 and 4. On 7, the golfers landed the same spot on the green with their approach shots, each left with a nearly 25-foot downhill putt for birdie. Suwannapura went first, hitting the perfect stroke right on line, but the putt stopped just on the lip. Getting a read off Suwannapura, Zhang sank the long birdie putt to take the lead for the first time.<\/p>\n

Suwannapura made up for her missed putt on 7 with a bolder birdie putt on 8, but bogeyed No. 9 where Zhang birdied. The American took a two-stroke lead with another birdie on 10, but Suwannapura caught up with birdies on 12 and 13. Zhang dropped a shot on No. 14, which played as the hardest hole of the day, but got it back on 15 to re-take a share of the lead. Tied at 17-under overall with Suwannapura and Atthaya Thitikul heading onto the last hole, Zhang\u2019s approach shot over the bunker on No. 18 made the difference. She sank a 10-footer to take the solo lead, finishing the day with a 7-under 65.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was incredible. I say this every week, but I feel like I’m learning so much from all the professionals out here on tour. They really show they’re world class, and Jasmine, I never expected anything less,\u201d said Zhang. \u201cIt was really incredible to watch, and I feel like I’m still learning so there is just much to improve on, and I’m really happy that I’m able to fight alongside the best in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n