Kajang, Selangor; May 6: Danny Chia was Malaysia’s best performer at the halfway stage of the PGM-ADT-CCM Impian Classic today after firing a second straight 69 to take sole possession of fifth place on 138. He trails joint leaders Artemio Murakami and Himmat Rai by six strokes in RM200,000 Asian Development Tour event.

The Malaysian number one, which is nursing a niggling neck and elbow injuries, struggled with his iron play as he mixed six birdies against three bogeys. “I’m driving it well but I’m somehow a bit hesitant with the irons as I’m not releasing the club properly,” said Chia.

The trio of Hanafiah Jamil, R. Nachimuthu and Kemarol Baharin were a further stroke back on 139 while M. Sasidaran slipped to a tie of with Akhmal Tarmizee (68) and Ben Leong (72) after a round of three-over 75 today.

Solhairy Shariff shot the tournament’s first hole-in-one on the second hole en route to a 73. The halfway cut was set at 146 with 50 players, including 24 Malaysians, progressing into the weekend rounds.

The Impian Classic, the third leg of this season’s Asian Development Tour, is organised by the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour.

Leading second round scores

132: Artemio Murakami (Phi) 65-67, Himmat Rai (Ind) 64-68

134: Will Yanagisawa (US) 67-67, Jonathan Moore (US) 68-66

138: Danny Chia (Mas) 69-69139: Zaw Moe (Myn) 71-68, Hanafiah Jamil (Mas) 68-71, T.J. Kim (Kor) 73-66, R, Nachimuthu (Mas) 70-69, Kemarol Baharin (Mas) 70-69

140: Hsu Chia-jen (Tpe) 69-71, Chang Tse-peng (Tpe) 66-74, Khor Kheng Hwai (Mas) 70-70

141: Akhmal Tarmizee (Mas) 73-68, M. Sasidaran (Mas) 66-75, Ben Leong (Mas) 69-72