Choi reeled off eight birdies in a six-under-par 66 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course on Saturday to be tied fourth, four shots behind the leader, defending champion Miyu Yamashita of Japan.
But it will be a tough task to overhaul world No.4 Yamashita, the 2025 Women's British Open winner, who shot a 67 to reach 18 under and take a two-shot lead as she targets back-to-back wins in the event.
Choi, 28, had her rookie season on the LPGA Tour back in 2019 and has managed just two top-10 results since. She tied for eighth at the Kroger Queen City Championship back in May.
China's Yan Liu had the round of the day, a 63 which included an eagle, nine birdies and two bogeys, to move into a tie for second place with Frenchwoman Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (67), who led after the first round.
Choi is tied with Thai amateur Marisa Tojai (65) a further two strokes back.
Karis Davidson is best of the other Australians, tied 18th at nine under after a 70, with Cassie Porter (66) a shot further back, while Hannah Green posted a 66 to climb to five under.
Last week, Yuri Yoshida won the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, the fourth Japanese player this season to win on the LPGA Tour, joining Yamashita, Shiho Kuwaki and Yuna Nishimura. Yoshida shot 69 on Saturday and was at 11 under.
Next week, the LPGA's four-week, late-season Asian swing ends with the Toto Japan Classic at Omitama, outside Tokyo.
with The AP
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