
KUALA LUMPUR: American Casey O’Toole and Janne Kaske of Finland shared the second round lead at the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) MIDF KLGCC Championship as the tournament was reduced to 54 holes on Friday.
O’Toole, the current Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader, and Kaske fired a one-under-par 70 and 68 respectively to lead on seven-under-par 135 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club East Course.
Raphael De Sousa of Switzerland charged into contention with a 67 to lie one-shot back while eight other players including Greg Moss of the United States, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan, who won last week, Masaru Takahashi of Japan and Malaysia’s Brandon Lau Ka Kin were a further two shots back from the leaders.
Inclement weather throughout the week forced officials at the RM200,000 (approximately US$50,000) ADT event to shorten the tournament, which is the second last stop on the ADT schedule.
“Following several weather delays during the week, it has become clear that the completion of 72 holes within the required time frame is not feasible. Therefore officials and the sponsor have agreed that the tournament be decided over three rounds,” said ADT tournament director Adnan Othman
Kaske, who won the PGM MNRB Sarawak Championship in May, returned on Friday morning to finish three holes where he dramatically holed out for birdie from the fairway to tie for the lead.
“I had the craziest finish on the ninth hole. After a bad drive I had to lay-up and had about 100 yards to the green. The ball bounced a couple of times and went into the hole which was great,” he said.
“This is one of the best courses we play so it was nice to finish four days but this is Mother Nature. I’m not complaining because I’m sitting atop the leaderboard so it is going to be an exciting final round,” added Kaske, who currently ranksed 12th on the Order of Merit.
“I need to win one of the two remaining ADT events. A win here will not move me into the top-five but it will put me closer to it. It is very important but I can’t think about that in the final round. I need to think about birdies tomorrow,” said Kaske.
Leading second round scores (Par-71)
Malaysian unless stated
135 – Casey O’Toole (USA) 65-70, Janne Kaske (FIN) 67-68
136 – Raphael De Sousa (SUI) 69-67
137 – Ratchapol Jantavara (THA) 68-69, Pijit Petchkasem (THA) 67-70, Greg Moss (USA) 71-66, Masaru Takahashi (JPN) 69-68, Brandon Lau Ka Kin 70-67, Itthipat Buranatanyarat (THA) 70-67, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA) 70-67, Jordan Sheratt (AUS) 73-64
138 – Sam Cyr (USA) 67-71, Lee Yoo-ho (KOR) 69-69