Nathan Holman will take a two-shot lead into the weekend of the Maybank Championship Malaysia after a late birdie surge at Royal Selangor Golf Club.
The 24 year old has dropped just one shot so far this week, and followed up his opening round of 64 with a 65 on Friday to move clear of Richard Bland, who also registered a 65.
Holman was playing in just his 16th European Tour event when he won the Australian PGA Championship in December, and is now in the running to make it two wins in his first 20 appearances.
Bland, in contrast, is looking for his first win at the 378th attempt, but the Englishman has yet to make a bogey this week and has made a steady start to the season, securing a tie for seventh place in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Australian Holman followed his win on the Gold Coast with two solid efforts in the Desert Swing, and he is now aiming for a victory outside of his homeland as he looks to move up the Official World Golf Ranking.
In-form Englishman Danny Willett leads a host of challengers in a share of third place on eight under par after the World Number 13 added a round of 69 to his opening 65.
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Key quotes
Nathan Holman: “Today was just as good [as yesterday]. When I saw I was three or shots clear after the turn there were a few nerves, but I handled myself really well and managed to pick up a couple of birdies coming in.
“I putted really well today. I’ve been working on my alignment for the past couple of weeks, and it definitely seems to be paying off. It’s made a big difference, and my putts are rolling really nicely now.
“After winning at home my next aim was to win a tournament overseas, so it’s great to have the chance to tick that one off the list so soon. Then looking further ahead, getting into the top 100 in the World Ranking is a realistic aim.”
Richard Bland: “I’m very pleased, obviously. To go round here without dropping a shot in two days takes some doing. Hopefully I can continue the run going over the weekend.
“I’ve struck my irons as well as I have for some time. I also picked up a new Taylor Made driver in Dubai, and it’s added 15 yards to my drives. When you’ve got a shorter club in your hand, you can try to be a bit more aggressive.”
Danny Willett: “I’m struggling a bit with my body. My energy levels collapsed on the back nine, and I started making a few silly mistakes. But the flags were also quite tricky today and the wind’s picking up a bit, so I can’t see the scoring being too ridiculous. And I would’ve taken eight under after two rounds.
“I probably hit four or five different tee shots to what I did yesterday, mainly due to the wind direction and also the in positions. So it’s a brilliant golf course in that respect, because you don’t have to move the tees around too much to change the hole, if you change the flags it can still affect what you do from the tee. So I love the design. You can still be aggressive and take the hole on if you want, but if you hit it in the rough you lose all control for your second shot. So it really makes you think out there.”
Second Round Scores
129 N Holman (Aus) 64 65,
131 R Bland (Eng) 66 65,
134 J Campillo (Esp) 65 69, S Lee (Kor) 66 68, M Tabuena (Phi) 66 68, D Willett (Eng) 65 69,
135 T Jaidee (Tha) 66 69, M Fraser (Aus) 66 69,
136 A Dodt (Aus) 69 67, T Wiratchant (Tha) 69 67, M Kawamura (Jpn) 66 70,
137 L Bjerregaard (Den) 70 67, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 67 70, C Plaphol (Tha) 69 68, G Havret (Fra) 70 67, G Storm (Eng) 69 68, K Kim (Kor) 66 71,
138 G Bhullar (Ind) 67 71, R Wattel (Fra) 68 70, P Meesawat (Tha) 66 72, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 69 69, R Rock (Eng) 68 70, Y Song (Kor) 71 67, D Lipsky (USA) 68 70, S Gallacher (Sco) 68 70, A Levy (Fra) 65 73, C O’Toole (USA) 71 67,
139 P Marksaeng (Tha) 71 68, P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 69, M Kieffer (Ger) 68 71, T Fleetwood (Eng) 65 74, T Chuayprakong (Tha) 67 72, M Manassero (Ita) 70 69, J Quesne (Fra) 70 69, J Morrison (Eng) 68 71, T Khrongpha (Tha) 70 69, J Luiten (Ned) 72 67, A Que (Phi) 65 74,
140 K Horne (RSA) 70 70, T Lawrence (RSA) 68 72, K Richardson (Aus) 69 71, N Srithong (Tha) 69 71, M Mamat (Sin) 70 70, C Hsieh (Tpe) 68 72, S Brazel (Aus) 71 69, W Ashun (Chn) 70 70, M Ilonen (Fin) 71 69, P Uihlein (USA) 65 75, B Hebert (Fra) 71 69, E De La Riva (Esp) 69 71, R Gangjee (Ind) 68 72, E Pepperell (Eng) 70 70, J Cheng (Chn) 70 70,
141 S Yates (Sco) 71 70, M Tran (Vie) 70 71, C Nirat (Tha) 68 73, A Wall (Eng) 69 72, R Karlberg (Swe) 70 71, S Hussin (Mas) 67 74, B Munson (USA) 73 68, K Broberg (Swe) 69 72, N Fung (Mas) 70 71, W Choo (Mas) 70 71, K Baharin (Mas) 73 68, R Jacquelin (Fra) 72 69, K Deng Shan (Sin) 69 72, J Kruger (RSA) 74 67, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 70, S Rahman (Ban) 69 72, A Lascuna (Phi) 71 70,
142 J Pagunsan (Phi) 69 73, T Hatton (Eng) 71 71, A Kang (USA) 69 73, C Phadungsil (Tha) 70 72, M Madsen (Den) 72 70, P Peterson (USA) 72 70, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 70 72, J Jeong (Kor) 75 67, L Chieh-Po (Tpe) 71 71, C Pigem (Esp) 70 72, J Winther (Den) 73 69, G Gandranata (Ina) 72 70, A Da Silva (Bra) 73 69, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 69,
143 F Zanotti (Par) 73 70, S Hend (Aus) 73 70, M Siem (Ger) 74 69, U Park (Aus) 73 70, K De Silva (Mas) 68 75, A Quiros (Esp) 71 72, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 73 70, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 72 71, H Chien-Yao (Tpe) 72 71, T Pieters (Bel) 71 72, R Lee (Can) 71 72, S Norris (RSA) 73 70, M Korhonen (Fin) 69 74, E España (Fra) 72 71, D Drysdale (Sco) 71 72, K Low (Mas) 69 74, P McGinley (Irl) 72 71,
144 A Johnston (Eng) 71 73, W Ormsby (Aus) 74 70, S Chawrasia (Ind) 73 71, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 72 72, P Edberg (Swe) 74 70, F Aguilar (Chi) 73 71, J Janewattananond (Tha) 73 71, M Kaymer (Ger) 71 73, L Wei-Chih (Tpe) 70 74, O Wilson (Eng) 74 70, J Knutzon (USA) 72 72, C Wood (Eng) 69 75,
145 N Turner (Irl) 74 71, J Singh (Ind) 76 69, G Bourdy (Fra) 72 73, B Leong (Mas) 73 72, G Stal (Fra) 72 73, P Pittayarat (Tha) 75 70, S Othman (Mas) 75 70, L Weber (Fra) 72 73,
146 J Colomo (Esp) 78 68, S Barr (Aus) 74 72, M Warren (Sco) 73 73, S Lewton (Eng) 74 72, R Nachimuthu (Mas) 74 72, R Khan (Ind) 73 73, S Benson (Eng) 73 73, C Kumar (Ind) 74 72, E Chang (am) (Mas) 75 71,
147 M Jamil (Mas) 73 74, G Green (Mas) 73 74, A Cañizares (Esp) 72 75, M Jiménez (Esp) 75 72, D Chia (Mas) 76 71, A Atwal (Ind) 76 71, A Zahari (Mas) 72 75, B Henson (USA) 74 73, A Groom (Aus) 71 76, H Rai (Ind) 75 72,
148 D Clarke (Nir) 72 76, M Perera (Sri) 77 71, M Hoey (Nir) 77 71,
149 D Boonma (Tha) 75 74, J Wang (Kor) 74 75, N Colsaerts (Bel) 78 71,
150 K Kheng Hwai (Mas) 75 75, A Irawan (Mas) 77 73, J Lagergren (Swe) 74 76, T Olesen (Den) 75 75, M Carlsson (Swe) 76 74,
152 S Kapur (Ind) 81 71,
158 Z Latt (Mya) 76 82,
** D Howell (Eng) 73 WD, L Wen-Tang (Tpe) 79 WD, D Horsey (Eng) RT 0,
