Storm halts Gallacher progress as South African pair share the lead

MALAYSIAN OPEN: Stephen

Gallacher was on course to be in contention at halfway for the second year running in the Malaysian Open before play was suspended in Kuala Lumpur due to bad weather yesterday.

Joint-sixth overnight, the Lothians player had improved two places after covering his opening 11 holes in two-under to stand seven-under for the tournament.

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He was due to resume this morning just two shots off the lead, held jointly by South African duo Hennie Otto and Jbe Kruger.

Starting at the tenth, Gallacher birdied the 14th and 16th and was still error-free for the event when thunderstorms forced play to be abandoned.

In the same event last year, the former Dunhill Links champion opened with rounds of 67 and 70 to sit joint-fourth before signing off with a pair of 72s to finish in a tie for 11th.

In the third round, he played with Italian Matteo Manassero, who went on to claim the title after closing efforts of 67 and 68.

Gallacher, who tied for second in the Dubai Desert Classic in February, wasn’t the only Scot returning to the course this morning to finish their second round.

Scott Jamieson was tied for 16th on four-under with 11 holes to play, while 2002 winner Alastair Forsyth, who was also through seven holes when play was halted, was just inside the cut on one-over

Just below that mark on level-par was David Drysdale, who had eight to play, while Ross Bain resumed on five-under for his final 11 holes.

George Murray, the only player in the Scottish contingent to complete his second round, already knew his fate, the Fifer being certain to miss the cut after a 79 for 154, ten-over.

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South African players continued to dominate at the top of the leaderboard – despite overnight leader Charl Schwartzel, the former Masters champion, dropping back.

Otto stole the limelight from his more renowned countrymen to set the clubhouse target, firing an unblemished round of 64 to hold a share of the lead with compatriot Kruger on nine under par.

Kruger also carded eight birdies, his only hiccup coming with a bogey at the par-5 third to go around in 65.

Louis Oosthuizen, who lost a dramatic play-off to Bubba Watson at the Masters last week, was alone in third on eight under after 12 holes of his second round.

Oosthuizen and Schwartzel made a 30-hour journey from the United States to Kuala Lumpur to take their place in the field and while Schwartzel showed no ill-effects on Thursday, when he shot 64 to take the overnight lead, he laboured yesterday morning. The 27-year-old carded three bogeys and one birdie on the front nine, and then also bogeyed the 11th shortly before play was suspended.

That left Schwartzel four off the pace on five-under-par, two behind former world No 1 Martin Kaymer and American David Lipsky, who had both completed second-round 67s.

Danny Willett was the best-placed Englishman on six under after carding back-to-back rounds of 69.

The Yorkshireman’s round was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 fifth, as he also mixed three birdies with a pair of bogeys to ensure he will be well placed for the weekend.