Thai trio Sarisa Pojanalai, Achiraya Sriwong and Pimnipa Panthong share top spot, while Malaysia’s Liyana Durisic claims fifth qualifying place.
KUALA LUMPUR: Five rising golf talents earned Sponsor’s Invitations to the Maybank Championship 2026 after finishing among the top five at the Asean Qualifier, which concluded at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) today.
Thai amateurs Sarisa Pojanalai and Achiraya Sriwong, and their professional compatriot Pimnipa Panthong, shared the top spot after all three finished on four-under-par 140 following two rounds of action on the West Course.
Pojanalai produced the standout performance of the tournament, firing a six-under 66 featuring eight birdies. Sriwong, who also qualified for last year’s Maybank Championship, carded a four-under 68, while Panthong closed with a three-under 69.
Another Thai amateur, Marisa Tojai, secured fourth place with a two-under 142 total, while Malaysia’s Liyana Durisic claimed the fifth and final qualifying spot on one-under 143.
Durisic’s qualification was a proud moment for the home nation and will see her make her third appearance at the Maybank Championship. She was also part of the Maybank Champions Academy in 2014, a junior development programme that helped launch her journey in elite golf.
The 2026 Asean Qualifier attracted a record field of 78 players from five Southeast Asian nations, compared with 69 in 2025 and 35 in the inaugural 2024 edition. The growing participation highlights the rising ambition and talent among women golfers across the region.
The top five finishers will now compete at the Maybank Championship 2026 at KLGCC from Oct 29 to Nov 1. Established in 2024, the Asean Qualifier serves as a merit-based pathway for professionals and elite amateurs aged 14 and above from 11 Asean nations to compete alongside the LPGA’s best.
