Warren and Gallacher close to halfway lead in Malaysia
Westwood fires 10-under-par 62 in his happy hunting ground at Saujana
Marc Warren and Stephen Gallacher both stormed into contention in the Maybank Championship after joining a low-scoring spree led by Lee Westwood in the second round in Malaysia.
As Edinburgh-based Westwood took pride of place with a 10-under-par 62 at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Warren and Gallacher both produced their best rounds so far this season.
Warren, who tied for 20th in this event two years ago after opening with a 63, carded sevenbirdiesashesignedforasixunder-par 66 to sit alongside Westwood on 10-under, one shot behind Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai (65) and Italian Nino Bertasio (65).
Overnight leader Chris Paisley (69) and Japan’s Yuta Ikeda (64) are also just one off the pace while Gallacher, who finished 15th in that same event in 2016, is a further shot back after he opened his second round with an eagle then added seven birdies in firing a 65.
Adding to a good day’s work by the Scottish contingent, Scott Jamieson backed up his opening 68 with a 69 to sit joint 25th while Thai-based Simon Yates (66 for six-under) and Richie Ramsay (68 for fiveunder) also comfortably made the cut.
“It was good,” said Warren of his effort. “I’m really pleased overall. On this golf course, if you only have one bogey [in twodays]yourgameisgoingto be pretty solid and I feel every aspect is pretty good, so looking forward to the weekend.”
Gallacher, who made the cut in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai despite struggling with his driver, set up his eagle with a 4-iron from a bunker to around 20 feet. “That set the tone for the day,” he said. “I played lovely, holing a few putts when I needed to, and I’m delighted to get up there and give myself a chance over the weekend.”
Khongwatmai, a 19-yearold who played in the Eur Asia Cup last month, made his score by reeling off five birdies in a row from the 11th before being joined at the top of the leaderboard late in the day by Bertasio as he signed for eight birdies.
Westwood won the Malaysian Open on this same course 20 years ago before reclaiming that title by seven shots in 2014. In total, he has recorded nine victories in Asia in his glittering career. The Englishman started his second round just inside the top 100 but bagged 11 birdies as he catapulted himself up the leaderboard on the back of a blistering effort. It came out of the blue after he’d suffered early exits in the desert double-header over the past fortnight.
“I missed the first two cuts but I sort of got in my own way mentally, not sure of the reason for that, but today I just freewheeled really and had fun out there,” said the former world No 1 but who has not tasted victory since 2015 and is currently not exempt for the Masters, an event where he finished second in 2010 and 2016.
Elsewhere, it was a disappointing day for Edinburghbased Beth Allen in the Oates Vic Open.
The American shared the overnight lead after an opening 67 at 13th Beach Golf Club near Melbourne but slipped to joint 15th after a 78. The three Scots in the field – Carly Booth, Kylie Henry and Michele Thomson – all missed the cut.