Malixi stays relentless, closes in on Yang with 66
(UPDATED 1:32 P.M.) MANILA, Philippines — Rianne Malixi refused to let up.
With another display of poise, precision and quiet firepower, the ace Filipina shotmaker delivered a brilliant six-under 66 Friday to stay within striking distance of Korea’s Yunseo Yang in the rain-hit second round of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) Championship in New Zealand.
Malixi’s second straight day of composed, near-flawless golf lifted her to 10-under 134, improving from joint fourth to a share of second and setting the stage for a riveting weekend duel.
But Yang remained firmly in control, backing up her opening 65 with a steady 66 for a 131 total, preserving a three-shot cushion heading into the final 36 holes at Royal Wellington Golf Club.
Joining Malixi in second is another Korean, Gyu Been Kim, who fired the day’s best round of 65, turning the championship into what now shapes up as a three-player showdown with so much at stake, including coveted invitations to three LPGA major championships.
Malixi’s 66 followed an opening 68 and underscored the resolve of a player determined to make this campaign count. A year removed from a heartbreaking withdrawal in the first round due to a back injury, she has returned stronger — physically sharper, mentally tougher and strategically smarter.
Her iron and wedge play bordered on clinical for the second straight day. Time and again, she dialed in approaches that left little doubt, setting up makeable birdie chances even in blustery, soft conditions.
“I’ve been hitting a lot of really good iron shots and it was much better than yesterday,” said Malixi. “Hitting it much closer and I dropped a couple of putts fortunately. Left a couple out there, so I know there is room for improvement and I can shoot even lower, knowing that I fought like this.”
After opening with two pars, Malixi ignited her round with three consecutive birdies from No. 3, attacking flags with authority. She added another on the seventh to keep the momentum rolling despite the softened layout.
Her lone blemish opportunity came at the demanding par-4 ninth, where a tricky pin placement near the edge of the green left minimal room for error. Failing to convert from just outside five feet, she holed out with a bogey — a rare missed chance in an otherwise polished display.
The back nine, however, showcased her maturity.
She birdied Nos. 12 and 14 with pinpoint approaches, then delivered perhaps her smartest decision of the day at the 17th. After splitting the fairway, Malixi carefully assessed the gusting wind, switched clubs, and executed flawlessly, stuffing her approach to within four feet. The result: another birdie and a pair of 33s — proof of both her shot-making and course management acumen.
Despite trailing Yang, Malixi is in full control — not flashy, not forcing anything — just steady, confident and unshakeable.
And she’s not just chasing a title.
The incoming Duke University freshman is eyeing another jewel to complement her historic 2024 season, when she captured back-to-back victories at the US Girls’ Junior and US Women’s Amateur — a rare and record-tying feat. Adding the WAAP crown would further cement her place among the world’s elite amateurs.
“I really don’t want to think about how far back I am. I just want to play my best golf, focus on my game and take it shot by shot. Anyone can shoot really low if they focus on it, so I’m just going to do that,” said Malixi, who has two Top 5 finishes in five previous WAAP appearances.
But Yang is proving equally unyielding.
Despite battling the same wind and rain, Yang matched Malixi’s composure with her own brand of disciplined aggression in a separate group. Like her closest pursuer, she opened and closed strongly, absorbing pressure without surrendering ground.
Yang’s consistency has been her greatest weapon. She has kept mistakes to a minimum, capitalized on scoring holes, and maintained control of her tempo even as challengers closed in.
The Korean standout, who finished tied for fourth in Vietnam last year, appears determined to go several steps further this time. She is also chasing history — seeking to deliver Korea its first WAAP championship, a surprising gap for a nation that has long dominated the LPGA Tour and international circuits.
With Kim surging into contention after a 65, Yang now faces relentless pressure from both sides.
Six shots back at 137 are Japan’s Ai Goto (67) and Korea’s Sumin Hong (68), but unless something dramatic unfolds, the battle appears poised to center on Yang, Malixi and Kim.
Royal Wellington has yielded low scores despite heavy morning rain and late gusts, meaning no lead is truly safe. With three players separated by just three strokes, the final 36 holes promise shifting momentum, strategic brinkmanship and nerves under fire.
For Malixi, it’s redemption and legacy.
For Yang and Kim, it’s national pride and breakthrough validation.
The stage is set for a blockbuster weekend — three elite talents, one championship, and everything to gain.
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