Kiradech Aphibarnrat regained the clubhouse lead before play was suspended for a second day at the Malaysian Open as Australian Wade Ormsby finds himself seven strokes off the pace. The opening round, though, had come to an abrupt halt on Thursday afternoon as thunderstorms lashed the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and weather affected the tournament for a second successive day on Friday as only half the field completed their second rounds. Aphibarnrat, who held a one-shot lead overnight, completed nine holes during his second round to be at three under, one-stroke clear at 10 under before darkness ended play prematurely. South African Charl Schwartzel and China&aposs Ashun Wu, who both carded rounds of 68, appeared set for a share of the lead at nine under but two consecutive birdies saw the overnight leader return to the top of the leaderboard. Schwartzel, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December last year, opened the day with two successive birdies on the back nine but fell away towards the end of play with two late bogeys. Wu, meanwhile, managed five birdies and the solitary bogey in a solid second round in Malaysia. Edoardo Molinari was on two-under for his day before darkness set in during his second round, leaving the Italian two shots off the pace and in outright fourth position. China&aposs Wen-Chong Liang (68), Scott Jamieson (72) of Scotland and Englishman Lee Slattery (70) completed their second rounds to be in a share of fifth at six under alongside Swede Noren Alexander and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, who were still in the middle of their second rounds as play was suspended. Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello is five shots off the pace with Thai Prom Meesawat (71), Spain&aposs Pablo Larrazabal (70), Scott Alastair Forsyth (70), Finn Joonas Granberg (68) and Dane Anders Hansen (37), who will complete his second round on Saturday. Ormsby is the best of the Australia contingent at three-under overall after he was one under through four holes on Friday. Ormsby is level with compatriot Marcus Fraser who was at even par through four and the pair find themselves one stroke ahead of Andrew Dodt and Marcus Both, who have both dropped a stroke through four and two holes respectively. Richard Green (70) and Scott Barr (69) recovered from poor opening days to be at even par overall as they both completed their rounds on Friday, while Scott Hend is level with his two compatriots having picked up two strokes from just five holes.
Author: Omnisport