Malaysia Open to be decided over 54 holes
>> SHAH ALAM: The Malaysia Open has been reduced to 54 holes following several weather delays which saw more than 10 hours of play lost throughout the week, officials said yesterday.
The third round of the US$1 million event, which got underway at 12.15pm local time (1.15pm Thai time), was suspended for the third time this week due to lightning threats at 2.05pm, just before overnight leader Andrew Dodt of Australia was due to tee off.
With inclement weather expected today, officials made the decision to shorten the tournament at 4.30pm yesterday and abandoned play for the day at the same time due to continued lightning activity in the area.
All 74 players, who made the halfway cut set at one-under 143, will resume their third and final rounds at 8.30am today with the last two groups scheduled to tee off at 8.30am and 8.40am respectively.
A total of 77 players had returned to the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club yesterday morning to complete their second rounds.
At the age of 14 years and 308 days, Lo Tien Ming became the second youngest Malaysian after 2017 Order of Merit champion Gavin Green (14 years and 305 days, 2008 Johor Open) to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour.
Dodt, who opened his campaign with a stunning 63, continued his bogey-free run when he signed for a four-under-par 68 to stay atop the leaderboard after 36 holes.
With a two-day total of 13-under 131, Dodt holds a one-shot edge over China’s Liu Yanwei, who had earlier impressed with a second round 65. American duo Jarin Todd and Trevor Simsby shared third place on matching 133s.
Thailand’s Kosuke Hamamoto, who birdied the first hole of his third round, shared fifth spot with South Korea’s Charlie Wi, Japanese duo Rikuya Hoshino and Mikiya Akutsu and Canada’s Richard T Lee on nine under.