Incheon [KOREA]: Debutant Danial Durisic led three Malaysians into the weekend rounds of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship but there must be improvement if the trio are to close the gap with the tournament’s leading lights.

Two dropped shots in the  final two holes cost the University of Arkansas in Little Rock freshman a chance of an even-par finish as he signed for a second consecutive two-over 74 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club.

It left the 19-year-old at four-over 148 total for a share of 31st – 14 strokes behind halfway leader Brett Coletta, who is headlining an Australian onslaught for the spot at The Masters Tournament, which awaits the winner of the region’s elite amateur meet.

The cold, blustery conditions, with winds up to 10km/h, proved all the more testing for a half-fit Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz, who nonetheless rallied with two birdies in his closing four holes for a three-over 75, joining Chan Tuck Soon (77) in a tie for 38th on 149.

There was however disappointment for Galven Kendall Green (78), Amir Nazrin Jailani (77) and Muhd Afif Mohd Razif (80), who fell short off the halfway cut that came at nine-over 153.

Leading second round scores (Par-72) >
134 – Brett Coletta (AUS) 67-67
135 – Cameron Davis (AUS) 65-70
137 – Junya Kameshiro (JPN) 68-69
139 – Curtis Luck (AUS) 70-69, KK Limbhasut (THA) 68-71, Yuwa Kosaihira (JPN) 67-72
140 – Nicholas Coxon (NZL) 69-71, Takumi Kanaya (JPN) 70-70
142 – Yu Chun-An (TPE) 71-71, Andy Zhang (CHN) 73-69
—– Malaysian as they fared—–
148 – Danial Durisic 74-74
149 – Chan Tuck Soon 72-77, Daeng Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz 74-75
156 – Galven Kendall Green 78-78, Amir Nazrin Jailani 79-77
158 – Muhd Afif Muhd Razif 78-80