Golf
Kiradech leads in Malaysia
2010-03-05 16:23
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Kiradech Aphibarnrat (File)
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Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat led the weather-interrupted Malaysian Open on nine-under-par despite completing only 14 holes of his second round on Friday.
Kiradech, who started on the 10th, chipped in from 30-yards for an eagle three on the par-5 fifth, his final hole of the day, before bad light stopped play after more than two hours were lost because of storms.
"I was very lucky on that eagle," Kiradech, the world number 231, told the Asian Tour website (www.asiantour.com). "It wasn't quite dark... I wanted to continue and chipped in for eagle."
Spain's Alejandro Canizares was a shot back on eight-under-par after managing to complete his three-under 69 round just before play stopped at the co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour event.
Earlier, Dane Soren Hansen and Filipino Angelo Que both fired five-under-par 67s in the morning session to sit at seven-under after another hot and humid day at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country club.
Temperatures reached 35 degrees with 75 percent humidity which proved too much for India's Jyoti Randhawa and Argentine Rafa Echenique, who both withdrew from the tournament before Friday's round after suffering effects from the weather.
Que, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, fired six birdies in his round and said he was trying not to concern himself by the weather.
"Everybody is struggling in the heat and I think everyone is more focussed on the heat than on their game," Que said. "It's hot enough and if you let it affect you more, your game is going to be affected."
Overnight leaders Ignacio Garrido (16 holes) and Rhys Davies (11) and South Korean's Kim Dae-hyun (9) and KJ Choi (16) were also at seven-under and will have to finish their rounds early Saturday, when more storms are expected.