Gavin and Ben hold on to second place

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian golfers Gavin Kyle Green and Ben Leong maintained their fine start at the World Cup of Golf in Australia by holding on to their second place.

Playing on a rough and windy second day, the duo did enough to stay hot on the heels of first-placed pairs when they carded a score of one-over 73 and eight-under 136 to trail only two strokes behind the leaders at the Metropolitan Golf Club in South Oakleigh, Melbourne yesterday.

They are tied with England’s Ryder Cup winning duo Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter. Italy’s Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore and India’s Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Tied at the top of the leaderboard are defending champions Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry of Belgium with one-under 71 and South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and Kim Si-woo, who made par 72 for a total of 10-under 134 after two days in the 28-nation contest.

Competing in the foursome (alter- nate shot) format in the second round, Gavin and Ben continued to be the surprise team with two impressive rounds to feature near the top of the leaderboard despite the rough conditions.

“Wind everywhere, it was cold, it was wet, keeping our clubs dry was really a bonus. If you told us you can take a one-over score, I’ll take a 75,” said Gavin.

“It was just tough. Ben and I, we grind it out, made a couple impor- tant putts, especially Ben. A lot of good putts, important putts.

“We kept it in play as much as we could and just tried to give ourselves as many looks as possible.”

For Ben, it was all about staying positive and in the challenge.

“Even the par today, feels like a birdie. Even like 18, making a par on 18 is huge. It’s such a tough hole, there’s so many tough holes out there.”

Returning to the fourballs format today, where the best individual score on each hole counts, Gavin said they would not change anything.

“I don’t think so (it will change anything). I think it’s good, Our strategy works so far and I hope it continues.

“We’ll see what happens the next two days.”

The 72-hole stroke play tournament will see the golfers compete in the fourballs (best ball) format in the first and third rounds and the foursome (alternate shot) in the second and fourth rounds.