MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP: KELLY'S FIRED UP TO FINISH ON A HIGH

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Having spent most of the season playing abroad, national golfer Kelly Tan knows she owes it to her fans here to finish as high as she possibly can in the final round of the Maybank Championship tomorrow.

The 32-year-old looks to have found her form just in time when she emerged as the best-performing Malaysian in the third round by going on a six-birdie blitz en route to carding a four-under 68 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) today.

Kelly, who sizzled with birdies on holes 2, 3, 5, 12, 13 and 14, and faltered with bogeys on holes 8 and 9, is in joint 38th spot with six others with a three-day total of five-under 211.

“It’s fun. I mean, it’s really fun to be able to play golf in front of my family and close friends. I’m mostly playing abroad, and it’s just really nice to have everyone here.

“I think everything (worked well). Hit my driver well and hit my irons well. I had six birdies today and 27 putts, so putting was good... scrambling was good (too).

“When your game clicks, obviously, you can shoot low (numbers). I think that’s what I did today,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Mirabel Ting fired a two-under 70 to sit in joint 45th position at four-under 212, while Genevieve Ling carded a two-over 74 for a one-under 215 total to be tied at 57th spot.

Ashley Lau (four-over 76) and Liyana Durisic (three-over 75), the other two Malaysians in the fray, ended the day in tied 67th and 71st positions respectively.

Ashley admitted that it was simply not a good day at the office, although she remained positive about her overall play.

“Nothing to be mad or sad about because I felt like I played pretty decent. Just didn’t really have any putts dropping.

“Maybe a little poorer (ball striking) than the last two days. Still, I would say pretty decent. Again, didn’t leave myself with a lot of birdie opportunities,” she said.

-- BERNAMA