SCOTT JAMIESON SIX UNDER PAR AFTER 10 HOLES BEFORE STORM HALT

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat continued his fine form to claim the clubhouse lead before thunderstorms forced the suspension of play during the first round of the Maybank Malaysian Open.

The big-hitting 23 year old finished fourth last week’s Avantha Masters in India, and fired eight birdies and a bogey to sign for a seven under par 65 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Dane Anders Hansen and Italian Edoardo Molinari all carded six under par 66s in the morning, while Scott Jamieson was on the same score having played ten holes when play had to be abandoned for the day. The Scot had just eagled the par five tenth.

 

Aphibarnrat admitted he struggled in the extreme heat and humidity. “The weather is too hot and my thyroid disease is making me feel tired,” he said. “I didn’t have enough energy to hit long drives.

 

“I didn’t force myself or any of my golf shots. I didn’t set any goals. I didn’t tell myself that I should finish in the top-five or win this event. I want to take it shot by shot. When you don’t have power or energy, you can’t force yourself.”

 

Hansen finished with three consecutive birdies and was delighted to have found some form.

 

“I plodded along all day and all of a sudden the putts started dropping at the end,” he said.

“I’m very, very pleased. I’ve been struggling a bit all year, but this week I’ve worked very hard on the range even though it has been so hot.”

 

World Number Three Luke Donald carded a two over par 74, while Irishman Padraig Harrington signed for a three under par 69 in sweltering conditions in the Malaysian capital. 

CLUBHOUSE SCORES 

Par 72 Yardage 6,967

65 - Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA).

66 - Anders HANSEN (DEN), Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA), Gregory BOURDY (FRA).

67 - S. Murthy (MAS), Victor DUBUISSON (FRA).

68 - LEE Sung (KOR), Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE), Peter LAWRIE (IRL), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA).

69 - Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL), David HOWELL (ENG), Alexander NOREN (SWE), Marcus FRASER (AUS), Andrew DODT (AUS), Mark FOSTER (ENG), Joost LUITEN (NED), Marcus BOTH (AUS), Oliver FISHER (ENG).

70 - Angelo QUE (PHI), Mikko ILONEN (FIN), R. Nachimuthu (MAS), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Emilliano GRILLO (ARG), Wade ORMSBY (AUS), Mardan MAMAT (SIN), Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG).

71 - Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), Steve WEBSTER (ENG), Stephen GALLACHER (SCO), Danny CHIA (MAS), Simon KHAN (ENG), Thomas AIKEN (RSA), LEE In-woo (KOR), MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Soren KJELDSEN (DEN), Matthew BALDWIN (ENG), Berry HENSON (USA), Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN).

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