Hyejin Choi, Top Earner Without a Win, Delivers Perfect 8-Under Performance

One Eagle and Six Birdies in Maybank Championship Round 1
No Wins Since LPGA Tour Debut in 2022
Top Career Earnings Among Players Without a Victory

Hyejin Choi is making a strong push for victory.

On October 30 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (par 72, 6,536 yards) in Malaysia, during the first round of the Maybank Championship-the third event of the LPGA Tour’s Asian Swing with a total prize fund of 3 million dollars-she recorded one eagle and six birdies without a single bogey. Shooting an 8-under-par 64, she surged to the top of the leaderboard. Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland and Benedetta Moresco of Italy are tied for second place at 7-under-par 65.

Hyejin Choi shot an 8-under-par 64 in the first round of the Maybank Championship. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Choi made a birdie on the first hole (par 4), then followed it up with an eagle on the third hole (par 5), sinking a long putt from about 20 meters. She added birdies on the seventh and ninth holes (both par 4), reducing her score by five strokes on the front nine alone. On the back nine, she added birdies on the 12th and 16th holes (both par 4), as well as the final 18th hole (par 5).

Choi debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2022 but has yet to claim a victory. She has accumulated career earnings of 5,844,969 dollars, making her the top-ranked player in prize money among those without a win. Although she has consistently delivered strong performances, she has repeatedly fallen just short at the final hurdle. This year, she has played in 21 tournaments and finished in the top 10 eight times. At the Meijer Classic in June, she finished runner-up, one stroke behind Carlota Ciganda of Spain.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.