KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Gemma Dryburgh’s first and only LPGA Tour victory came three years ago in Japan. On Thursday, the 32-year-old Scotsman shot a seven-under 65 at the Maybank Classic to bid for his second Asian title.
Dryburgh made her seventh birdie of the day on the 18th hole at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, putting her one stroke behind Choi Hye-jin’s first-round lead. Choi’s 64 included an eagle on the par-5 third hole and a birdie on the 18th.
Dryburgh tied for second place with Benedetta Moresco (Italy).
“It was a very stress-free round,” Dryburgh said.
Although the humid and hot climate was very different from her native Scotland, her hometown of New Orleans in the United States, where she attended Tulane, helped prepare her for the situation.
“It was very different to Scotland, but on days like today it helps to live where I am,” Ms Dryburgh said. “I like that the greens are grainy and similar to where they play in New Orleans. So it suits my eye.”
The seven players who tied for fourth place with a time of 66 seconds, two strokes behind Choi, included Lydia Ko, Hannah Green, Ingrid Lindblad, Arpichaya Yubol, and Somi Lee.
Choi said he made some good recovery shots on Thursday to take the lead in the first round.
Choi said, “There were many situations where I almost made bogey due to the rough and hazards, but I made a lot of good pars.”
Defending champion Ying Ruoning shot a 68, and world number one Gino Titikul also shot a 68.
Titikul is the only multiple winner on this year’s LPGA Tour, winning at the Mizuho Americas Open in May and in Shanghai about three weeks ago, but he finished runner-up the last two times he played in Malaysia.
“I feel kind of comfortable playing here,” she said before the first round. “The course, the weather, the fans, it feels like a second home. It feels like a mini-Thailand.”
Last week, Australia won the International Crown Team event in South Korea. The LPGA concludes its five-week Asian swing next week with the Japan Classic in Shiga, the stage for Dryburgh’s 2022 championship.
