Baddeley stalking leaders

AUSTRALIAN Adam Scott fired a two-under-par 70 yesterday to sit six shots off the lead but countryman Aaron Baddeley’s 67 moved him to within three strokes of the frontrunners after the first round of the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.

Gold Coaster Scott, who finished a stroke behind winner Justin Thomas last year, is one of 18 players tied for 26th on a bunched leaderboard.

Thomas and fellow Americans Derek Fathauer and Keegan Bradley all shot impressive opening rounds of eight-under 64 to set up a three-way tie for the lead.

Englishman Paul Casey birdied four of the last five holes to lie one shot behind the American trio in fourth, one clear of Anirban Lahiri of India. Baddeley completed a five-under-par opening round of 67 to share sixth place.