Kuala Lumpur: Team Malaysia upped the pace in round two of the Mazda Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open (MLAO) today to take a comfortable lead into the third and final round tomorrow.

Iman Ahmad Nordin carded a second round best of four-under 67 for a two-day total of 138 to lead compatriot Kelly Tan Guat Chen by two shots at The Mines Resort & Golf Club.

Past winner Michelle Koh, who was tied for second at the start of the round,struggled to a four-over 75 to lie eight strokes of the lead alongside Thailand’s Phimnipha Wongwaiwate, who was the only competitor other than the top two to finish below par with a score of 70. Overnight leader Pornvipa Sakdee dropped down the leaderboard after a bogey-filled round of 77.

Iman showed great consistency, collecting six birdies, before a slight lapse in concentration towards the end saw her concede two bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes. The 19-year-old who has never led a tournament of this stature before, remained calm about the possibility of winning the tournament.

“I came into the tournament with zero expectations and I am pleasantly surprised to be leading. Tomorrow will be same – no expectations. I will just play my best golf,” said Iman, who won the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open earlier in the year.

After a triple bogey on the ninth, Kelly came back strongly on the back nine, mixing a birdie and a stunning eagle on the par-five 17th, to post a 2-under 69 to stay within touch of Iman.

The Division Two, Division Three as well as the Team competitions drew to an end today with local lasses Kelie Kan Kah Yan and Edora Abdullah claiming the Division Two and Three titles respectively. Kan finished the tournament with a total of 17-over 159, seven shots ahead of runner-up Suzie Lee of Korea. Thirteen-year-old Sabahan Tham Soot Yuet took third place after she broke the 80 mark for the first time today, to finish with a total of 24-over 166. Edora, on the other hand totalled four-over 182, beating out Tracy Hui of Hong Kong by two strokes.

Malaysia also made a clean sweep in the team competition,taking all three of the top positions.