2 weeks Ago By Darren Walton
Australian golf star Hannah Green has fallen short in an audacious bid to secure back-to-back victories on the LPGA Tour's lucrative Asian swing. The world No.5 fired the equal-low final round of seven-under 65 at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia to finish equal sixth at 15 under par, eight shots off the pace, at the $US3 million event at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Green briefly threatened to pull off one of the great comeback wins after notching five birdies in the first six holes to draw within four shots of the lead on Sunday. The former major champ climbed to 13 under for the tournament with a seventh birdie of the day at the 13th hole before her challenge ended with a bogey on No.14 Still, Green's sixth top-10 result of a stellar season, to go with three wins and 11 top 25s, significantly enhanced the West Australian's chances of reaching a career-high year-ending ranking inside the world's top four.
China's outstanding world No.4 Ruoning Yin won the event in a thrilling finish from fellow global young guns Jeeno Thitikul and Haeran Ryu. Yin snared her second win in three weeks with a final-round 65 to finish at 23 under, one stroke ahead of Thitikul (66) and Ryu (67).
The exciting trio started the final round with the equal lead but Yin prevailed after amassing seven birdies in a flawless 65. Green wound up as the leading Australian after Gabriela Ruffels could only manage a last-day 71 to finish in a share of 18th at 11 under par. Grace Kim was tied for 46th at six under after closing with a 69, while Hira Naveed (70) was one stroke further back in a share of 51st.
.
