KUALA LUMPUR: Mirabel Ting produced a gutsy second-round two-over 74 on Thursday to become the first Malaysian golfer to advance to the final day of the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur in Georgia, United States.
The 18-year-old, who shot an opening 69 on Wednesday, passed the opening 36-hole stage contested at the Champions Retreat Golf Club tying for a commendable fifth spot with seven others including world No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad of Sweden on one-under 143 total.
At just four shots off the pace behind England's Lottie Woad, Mirabel still stands a chance to be fighting for a win when the battle resumes on Sunday at the famed Augusta National Golf Club.
The Augusta National is the home of the Masters Tournament, one of the four men's major golf championships, where the 88th edition is set to take place next week.
Woad's aggregate of five-under 139 gave her a two-stroke cushion over American duo Giana Clemente and Maisie Filler while Sambach, also of the United States sits fourth at 142.
Regardless of how things unfold for Mirabel, she can surely walk tall after achieving what her other predecessors could not.
Four other Malaysians - Loy Hee Ying, Alyaa Abdul Ghany, Ashley Lau and Jeneath Wong - had featured in the previous editions but none of them managed to make it through to the finale.