Golfer Kim A-rim has climbed to solo fourth place in the second round of the LPGA Tour Maybank Championship.

Kim shot an 8-under-par round with eight birdies and no bogeys in the second round of the tournament held today (30th) at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With a cumulative total of 10-under-par, Kim moved up to solo fourth, chasing defending champion and tournament leader Miyu Yamashita of Japan (13-under-par overall) by three strokes.

Yamashita, currently third in scoring average, has emerged as a strong candidate for the Vare Trophy as scoring leader Nelly Korda of America and second-place Ryu Hae-ran dropped out of the race due to an insufficient number of rounds.

Long-hitters Julia López Ramírez of Spain and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard of France, who average over 286 yards off the tee, tied for second place at 11-under-par overall.

Yang Hee-young, at 9-under-par overall, reached the halfway point tied for fifth place alongside Charley Hull of England and others.

Choi Hye-jin, who finished as runner-up in each of the past two tournaments, managed to shave off only two strokes, slipping to a tie for 11th place at 7-under-par overall, while Hwang Yu-min also reduced her score by two strokes to join Choi in a tie for 11th.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)