Jasin [MELAKA]: Nicholas Fung opened up a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Orna Championship on Thursday.
Displaying the sort of form that has yielded three victories so far this season, Fung carded a three-69 for a seven-under-par 137 total at Orna Golf & Country Club.
Leading the chase was Khor Kheng Hwai, who fired a matching 69 and Malaysia’s top-ranked amateur Low Khai Jei, who signed for a 70.
One shot adrift of the pair in-form Ben Leong, who carded a two-under 70 to share fourth place with fellow Sabahan Lam Yu Shuen (73) on 140.
Overnight leader Brandon Lau imploded with a miserable 84 which left him in a tie for 34th place on 150.
Fung mixed six birdies with a bogey at the par-three 12th and a double-bogey on the 16th. “Except for the 16th, I had little issues with my game today. I was struggling at the Glenmarie event due to a virus but a fortnight’s rest was just what the doctor ordered and I’m eyeing another title this week,” said the 2012 and 2013 Order of Merit champion.
Low, on the other hand, is growing in confidence after his tied third finish at the Northport Glenmarie Championship and hopes to build on his good effort so far.“The course is playing tough but I managed to get to two-under today and five-under overall, which is a great effort.
Looking back on his round, the former national amateur from Taiping added: “My driving was good and I hit solid irons shots, which but unfortunately, I couldn’t convert my birdie chances. You have to take your chances when you get them because that’s the difference at this level,” he noted.
A total of 46 players advanced into the weekend rounds with the cut coming at 11-over 155.
Leading second round scores >
137 – Nicholas Fung 68-69
139 – Khor Kheng Hwai 70-69, Low Khai Jei (A) 69-70
140 – Ben Leong 70-70, Lam Yu Shuen 67-73
141 – M. Sasidaran 71-70, Wilson Choo 68-73
143 – Lim Eng Seng 72-71, Shaifubari Muda 70-73
144 – Jeremiah Kim Leun Kwang 73-71, Sukree Othman 71-73, Kenneth Tobuse 69-75, Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari 68-75
