American Perez takes lead at rainy Malaysian event

Schauffele second as defending champ Thomas struggles.

Pat Perez led by one stroke halfway through the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after carding a 7-under 65 around a fourhour delay for rain Friday.

Fellow American Xander Schauffele was on Perez’s tail after a long-range eagle on the third hole set up his 5-under 67.

Defending champion Justin Thomas had another poor round by his standards, a 71. A three-peat on the TPC Kuala Lumpur, where he clinched his maiden U.S. PGA Tour title in 2015, seems a tall order.

Two bogeys compounded by a double bogey on the 12th meant Thomas was 10 shots behind Perez, at 3 under for the tournament.

Perez, meanwhile, was hoping for more gusty winds and rain after making eight birdies, including four in a row. He’s at 13 under.

“I don’t want sunshine at all. It’s too hot, way too hot,” Perez said. “I like it just the way it is right now, perfect. Cloudy, no wind.

“I didn’t think I really played that well. I got off to a slow start, I was 1 over through four. We had the break, and … I like the front (nine). I play better on the front.”

Kang Sunghoon of South Korea (68), Thomas Pieters of Germany (67) and overnight leader Cameron Smith of Australia (71) were tied for third, four shots off the pace at 9 under.

More unsettled weather is expected over the weekend.

Champions: Jerry Smith, David McKenzie and Gibby Gilbert III shared the firstround lead at 5-under 67 at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.

Jerry Kelly, Bart Bryant and Fran Quinn were a stroke back at Prestonwood Country Club in the 50-and-over tour’s regular-season finale.

LPGA: Angel Yin shot a 7-under 65 and took a twostroke lead after the second round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea.

Yin had an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole and six birdies, offset by a lone bogey on No. 17, for an 11-under total, two shots ahead of overnight leader Sung Hyun Park (69).

Park, who won the U.S. Women’s Open and was ranked No. 2 in the world, was tied with fellow South Koreans In Gee Chun (65) and Jin Young Ko (67).

Europe: Australia’s Marcus Fraser carded the lowest round of his European Tour career to take a share of the lead at the midway point of the Italian Open in Monza.

Fraser produced nine birdies — including five in a row in the middle of his round — and no bogeys for a 62 that took him to 13 under, tied with Matt Wallace, who shot a bogey-free 65.

STANLEY CHOU / GETTY IMAGES Pat Perez gets ready to play the seventh hole during his round of 7-under 65 in the CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur. Perez has a one-shot lead with a 13-under total.