Danny Chia [Courtesy Asian Tour]
Danny Chia emerged as Malaysia’s sole hope at the US$2.5 million Maybank Malaysian Open on Friday.
The Asian Tour winner was one under par for the tournament through 12 holes of his second round which was suspended due to darkness after play was halted for two hours and 40 minutes in the afternoon because of a lightning storm.
He was one stroke inside the projected halfway cut mark of even par but will have to negotiate his remaining six holes without further blemishes on the card on Saturday morning.
Chia’s card included two ugly double bogeys on the second and ninth holes but he shot four birdies to turn in 36 before settling for pars in his next three holes after the turn.
M. Sasidaran has four holes to get at least two birdies and move into the cut mark. He was one under through 14 holes when play was stopped, standing at two over for the tournament.
Ben Leong, Malaysia’s best performer on the opening day, struggled through 11 holes of his second round, dropping five bogeys to drop to four over for the tournament.
A total of 22 Malaysians are competing in the Maybank Malaysian Open, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Rory McIlroy and Alexander Noren share the clubhouse lead on 11-under-par 133.
