Malixi 4 shots adrift in Singapore Women's Open

MANILA, Philippines – Rianne Malixi stayed in top form coming off a break, delivering an impressive three-under 69 to trail clubhouse leader Korean Shinsil Bang by four at the start of the Singapore Women’s Open at the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Tampines course Thursday.

But it took the 16-year-old Malixi, one of the 13 amateurs slugging it out with some of the region’s seasoned pros and emerging talents, 10 holes before recording her first birdie on No. 2. She then bounced back from a mishap on the third with three straight birdies for a 33-36 and provisional share of 10th place with four other Koreans.

Bang led the Koreans’ assault with a bogey-free 65, wresting a two-stroke lead over compatriots Yeunjung Seo, Minju Kim and Jeyeong Lee, who matched 67s in the early going of the $1.8 million championship serving as the opening leg of the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (KLPGA Tour).

“I had a slow start but it was good. I managed to get some birdies in before finishing the round,” said Malixi, who drained all her birdies inside eight feet.

She rued her shaky iron play at the back, saying: “Most of my irons were a bit farther than my actual range.”

Malixi took a month-long rest following a remarkable start to the season, scoring a breakthrough overseas win in the Australian Master of the Amateurs. She tied for eighth in the Australian Amateur and shared fifth place in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Thailand.

Starting at the backside, the ICTSI-backed shotmaker settled for a string of pars while missing a couple of birdie opportunities from 12 feet. After another par on the first hole, she found her rhythm and touch, and birdied the next but failed to get up-and-down on No. 3.

But her short irons clicked in the next three holes, birdying Nos. 4 and 6, both par-3s, that sandwiched her other birdie on the par-5 No. 5, positioning herself as an early contender in the tournament, also part of the Ladies Asian Tour Series.

"I'll just be focusing on my game tomorrow," said Malixi.

Samantha Bruce also started out impressively, coming away with three birdies against a bogey after 14 holes. But she bogeyed the closing par-5 hole for a 70 for a share of 28th.

Dottie Ardina recovered from a bogey-bogey slide from No. 2 with a birdie on the 18th, saving a 73 for joint 64th in the 108-player roster.

Top favorite Patty Tavanakit, the Thai ace and a major winner on the LPGA Tour who won two of her first three tournaments this year, including the Saudi Ladies International and the Honda LPGA Thailand, had a four-under card after 10 holes at presstime.

Daniella Uy fought back from a bogey on No. 10 with a birdie the 16th for an ever-par round after seven holes, but Princess Superal groped for form and had a two-over card after 15 holes.