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Birdie blitz puts Wiesberger in control

Kuala Lumpur - Bernd Wiesberger fired home 11 birdies to seize the lead in the second round of the Maybank Championship in Malaysia, as he carded a nine-under-par 63 to gain a one shot lead over Danny Willett.

The Austrian, tied 19th in the opening round, came to life on the par-4 seventh hole, locking in a blitz of nine consecutive birdies.

Wiesberger is the first man to reel off nine consecutive birdies on the Asian Tour and European Tour but his feat won't make it to the record books due to the preferred lie ruling.

"I hit really good shots and I just felt calm out there. It felt kind of natural, I hit pretty good shots and really only holed two long ones which were the last birdie of the nine on 15 and about a 20-footer on 11," said Wiesberger.

"Apart from that I just hit them pretty close and felt like I had a good idea of what the ball was going to do on the green today again which was nice."

Reigning US Masters champion Willett lurked closely behind Wiesberger after finishing with a 67, to end with an 11-under-par total of 133.

"I played really good yesterday and it was a little bit scrappy today, but there was a storm brewing a few hours ago and the wind was flicking around so it was tough to get the club right so I scored nicely this afternoon," he said.

Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera was three shots away from Wiesberger after the second round and was tied third alongside American David Lipsky.

The tournament's defending champion Marcus Fraser from Australia came out with an aggregate score of 143 and missed the cut.

Leading second-round scores from the Maybank Championship Malaysia at the par-72 Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur on Friday:

132- Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)69-63

133- Danny Willett (ENG) 66-67

135- David Lipsky (USA) 68-67, Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA) 70-65

136- Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 68-68, K.T. Kim (KOR) 68-68

137- Marcel Siem (GER) 66-71, Sam Brazel (AUS) 66-71, Shiv Kapur (IND) 70-67, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 69-68, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 71-66, Alexander Levy (FRA) 69-68, James Morrison (ENG)70-67

138 - Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 66-72, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 69-69, Robert Rock (ENG) 71-67, Romain Wattel (FRA) 68-70, Marc Warren (SCO) 63-75

139- Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 73-66, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 71-68, Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN) 69-70, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 72-67, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-69, Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 70-69, Niall Turner (IRL) 68-71, Gavin Green (MAS) 68-71, Gregory Havret (FRA) 69-70

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