KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 35 golfers, including 19 Malaysians, will compete for five coveted spots in the prestigious Maybank Championship through its 36-hole ASEAN Qualifier.
The event will be held at the tournament's venue, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC), starting Tuesday.
The second edition of the Maybank Championship, scheduled for Oct 24-27, boasts a lucrative prize of US$3 million (RM13.04 million), making it the richest LPGA Tour stop in Asia.
While top Malaysian golfers, including Maybank ambassador Kelly Tan and national No. 1 Ashley Lau, are expected to make the 78-woman field via sponsors' invitations, the host country hopes to boost its representation through this two-day qualifying round open specifically to players from the Southeast Asian region.
Notable Malaysian professionals seeking to qualify include Michelle Koh, Aretha Pan, Dianne Luke, Genevieve Ling, and Geraldine Wong.
They will be joined by top Malaysian amateurs such as Ng Jing Xuen (reigning SEA Games gold medallist), Winnie Ng (in-form golfer) and Liyana Durisic.
Winnie Ng is considered a strong contender, having recently won three titles - the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open, RSGC Ladies Amateur Open and the women's championship of the Supra Cup on Toyota Tour.
The Malaysian golfers face stiff competition from contenders from Thailand (8 players) and Indonesia (7 players). Thailand's Wassawan Sangkapon is the highest-ranked professional in the field, with a Rolex Women's World Golf Ranking of No. 472.