Michael Campbell soared into the lead of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open with his second eagle in the space of 24 hours as he moved to eight under par after two rounds at Saujana Country Club.
Campbell held a two stroke lead over fellow Kiwi Elliot Boult, who carded a six under par 66, and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who had completed 14 holes when play was suspended due to lightning at 4.55pm local time. Play will resume for the 22 matches still to complete their second rounds at 8am local time on Saturday.
After waiting nine years to hole a full shot in tournament play, Campbell followed his eagle on the fourth during the first round with another eagle on his tenth hole, the first on the card, during the second round. This time he holed from 91 yards with a sand wedge, the shot some eight yards longer than his effort the previous day.
“Holing two shots within 24 hours is unheard of for me, it's unbelievable," the 31-year-old said. "Again I didn't see it go in but apparently it spun back from about six feet.”
His eagle two contributed to a second round 67, five under par, to move two clear of the field when play was suspended due to lightning. Campbell, the world number 16 and winner of six titles in the past 18 months worldwide, immediately advanced up the leaderboard with birdies from four foot and just a few inches on his second and fourth holes, the 11th and 13th on the course. A dropped shot on the 16th temporarily halted his charge but he hit back with the magnificent eagle. Two putts from eight feet on the fourth and fifth took the New Zealander to eight under par.
A poor drive into bushes on the next hole cost him a shot but a fifth birdie of the round restored his two shot lead.
He said: "I didn't play that well to be honest. There were a few good birdie putts but little besides that. If you take away the two shots I've holed it's not really that good, but I'm not complaining. There is still plenty of room for improvement.”
Boult, who regained his Tour card at the Qualifying School finals last November, shot a flawless 66 with two halves of 33, his longest birdie putt coming on the par three second where he holed from 20 feet. Boult, in fact, completed 19 holes today after completing his first round early in the morning.
“It was one of those rounds when everything went right,” said Boult. “The most important thing was holing a lot of short putts which is a must round here. It is a tricky course and if you get the wrong side of the hole you will be struggling all day.”
Harrington was making steady progress with four birdies in his first 13 holes to move to six under par. The Dubliner was out in 35 with just the one birdie on the fourth after pitching to four feet. But he got his round moving after the turn, pitching to two feet on the 10th for a birdie and following that with another on the 11th after hitting a six iron to 15 feet. A fourth birdie of the round was secured with a chip and putt from the back of the green on the par five 13th.
“The lapses that were there yesterday aren’t there today,” said Harrington, who dropped three shots in the closing eight holes of the first round. “I’ve been a little tighter and used my head better.”
Among the large group gathering on five under par is Masters Champion Vijay Singh, one under for the round when play was halted after 16 holes. Singh won his first international title in Malaysia in 1984 and also captured the Malaysian Open title in 1992.
“It was a mixed round with a few birdies against some bogeys,” said the Fijian. “I couldn’t get up and down but I’m still playing very well. I missed every putt I looked at. I made one on the 15th but then straight away bogeyed the 16th. I’m a little disappointed but hopefully can make two birdies to finish my second round and come back fresh for the third round.”
Also on five under par after a round of 67 is South African Desvonde Botes, winner of the Qualifying School Finals in Southern Spain last November.
