Lahiri slips on 2nd day, Chawrasia closes well; Perez in lead

KUALA LUMPUR: India's Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia faced contrasting fortunes in the closing stages, even as the threat of lightning forced a four-hour stoppage on the second day of the CIMB Classic here.

Lahiri, lying tied 8th overnight dropped to tied 23rd after a round of 73, while Chawrasia, lying close to the bottom after 16 holes in the second, picked himself with two closing birdies for a 71. Chawrasia is now tied 45, almost the same where he had started.

Lahiri's 73 was his first over-par round in the last 14 rounds at TPC Kuala Lumpur, a period during which he won the Malaysian Open and finished tied 3rd at 2016 CIMB.

Pat Perez, making his fifth appearance at CIMB, turned in a solid seven-under 65 with eight birdies against one bogey to move into sole lead at 13-under.

Perez had four birdies in a row from second to sixth and added two more on eighth and ninth for an incredible sixunder second nine after starting from the 10th.

Chasing Perez was Xander Schauffele, who carded another fine round of 67, that included an eagle, a par, a birdie and a bogey in a four-hole stretch from third to sixth. He moved him to 12-under and sole second.

While Perez won the OHL Maykoba in the wrap-around segment of the previous season, Schauffelle won the Greenbrier and ended the rookie year with a win at the Tour Championships, which was his last start before coming to CIMB for a maiden appearance.

“It was one of those days, when things just didn t happen after that good start,” said Lahiri.

Earlier during the rain stoppage, he had said: “Rain delays is something we are used to in Malaysia.”