A captivating battle is unfolding at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, as Sweden’s Maja Stark surged into the lead at the LPGA Malaysia Championship with a scintillating 6-under 66 on Friday. But nipping at her heels is seasoned American pro Marina Alex, who fired the low round of the day with an electrifying 8-under 64 to pull within one stroke of the lead.
Stark, a rising star on the LPGA Tour, put together a flawless round that included a sizzling stretch of four consecutive birdies from holes 10 through 13. Her two-day total of 12-under par has positioned her atop a star-studded leaderboard in this prestigious event. But she can’t afford to let her guard down with Alex, a tenacious competitor with two career LPGA victories, breathing down her neck.
Alex’s Astonishing Ascent
Marina Alex, a 13-year veteran of the LPGA Tour, put on a show for the ages on Friday. Her bogey-free 64 catapulted her 24 spots up the leaderboard and into solo second, just one shot behind Stark. Alex’s round was punctuated by a sensational hole-out eagle on the par-4 17th, where she lofted a perfect 9-iron from 131 yards that found nothing but the bottom of the cup.
“I thought it might come up a little bit short but pitched three or four short and it went in,” Alex said of her eagle hole-out. “The people up by the green were pretty pumped about it.”
Marina Alex
That electric finish sets the stage for an epic weekend showdown between Stark and Alex, two players at different stages of their careers but both brimming with confidence and momentum. Stark is seeking her first LPGA Tour title, while Alex aims to notch her third career win and first since 2018.
Defending Champion Lurking
While Stark and Alex have seized the spotlight, defending champion Celine Boutier remains very much in the mix. The Frenchwoman shot a solid 3-under 69 on Friday and sits four back at 8-under par for the championship. Boutier has been on a tear recently in Asia, notching back-to-back top-10s in Shanghai and South Korea.
Last year, Boutier topped Jeeno Thitikul in a thrilling nine-hole playoff to capture the inaugural Malaysia title, tying the second-longest sudden death in LPGA history. Thitikul also remains in striking distance after a Friday 69, lurking alongside Boutier at 8-under.
Storms Suspend Play
Friday’s second round at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club was interrupted by storms, forcing a handful of players to pause their rounds before darkness with a few holes still to play. Among them was 18-year-old phenom Mao Saigo, who stormed out of the gates with a first round 63 but stumbled to a 1-over start thru 16 holes on day two before the weather horn blew. Saigo and the others will return to complete their rounds early Saturday morning.
But the stage is set for an unforgettable weekend at the LPGA Malaysia Championship. Stark and Alex, two players at contrasting points in their globe-trotting careers, are set to duel in the tropical heat and humidity of Kuala Lumpur. Both displayed dazzling form and unwavering confidence over the first 36 holes – but who will rise to the moment and claim the coveted crown come Sunday?
With the likes of Boutier, Thitikul and other elite talents lurking not far behind, the LPGA Malaysia is shaping up to be a nail-biting, pressure-packed finish. The atmosphere will be electric as players navigate the risk-reward challenges of this championship layout, battling the course, the elements and their own nerves in pursuit of glory. For Stark, it’s a chance to burst into the winner’s circle in one of her first tastes of LPGA pressure. For Alex, an opportunity to reaffirm her status as one of the world’s best and cap a resurgent season in style.
As the dramatic scenes unfold in Malaysia, the golfing world will be watching with bated breath and unblinking eyes. Will youth prevail in the form of the upstart Stark? Can Alex summon her veteran savvy to turn back the clock? Might Boutier channel the magic of her 2023 playoff triumph and make it two in a row? All will be revealed in the pulsating rounds to come at the LPGA Malaysia Championship – and if the first 36 holes are any indication, we’re in for an unforgettable show this weekend in Kuala Lumpur.
