Published July 17, 2008 on October 12, 2018

Woodland and Leishman Grab Half-way Lead at CIMB Classic with Sharma Hot on Their Heels

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Gary Woodland is hoping to get lucky this time around at the US$7 million CIMB Classic sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA TOUR after finishing second twice in 2013 and 2014. The three-time PGA TOUR winner shot an 11-under 61 to take a share of the lead with Australian Marc Leishman by one stroke on 14-under 130. The American marked his card with 11 birdies to tie for the course record set by Thomas in 2015.

“I knew I was playing well yesterday and I felt like today I did the exact same thing. It’s nice to just stay aggressive out here. This golf course suits up pretty good for me, I’ve had success here in the past. It’s nice to be back and playing well,” said Woodland.

Leishman, who has also won three times on the PGA TOUR, was also bogey-free in a round of 10 birdies. His highlight of the day came when he holed four straight birdies from the second hole onwards.

“ I drove it a lot better today than I did yesterday. Had a little session on the range this morning and worked out what I was doing, so that was good and it paid off. To hit it the way I did and then make some putts as well made for a good day,” said Leishman

India’s Shubhankar Sharma birdied his closing two holes for a sparkling eight-under-par 64 and enters the weekend hot on the heels on Woodlands and Leishman, whom he trails by one-shot.

The Indian star rediscovered his form in the country where he won eight months ago as he registered nine birdies against a single blemish to end the day on 13-under-par 131.

“I am really happy, really pleased with the way I played.  Had a lot of birdie opportunities and I converted most of them,” said Sharma.

He added, “I just feel like all the players playing at this level are at a very high level.  On a course like this when they get going, they will go really low and I just feel like even I belong in that league.  When I’m feeling it and I’m hitting it good, I pretty much go at every pin and I feel like I can make all the putts.  I would just say that I did get into a zone today, especially on that front nine, which is my back nine, I was pretty much going at all the pins.  Just that one bad shot on the second, but other than that I was hitting it pretty good.  So really happy with where I am right now and I just want to continue doing that for the next two days.”

Starting from the 10th, the 22-year-old Sharma turned in 33 before showcasing his impeccable form highlighted by a 30-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole. He rifled his nine-iron approach shot to two feet on the last for an easy tap-in birdie to charge in contention.

Ryder Cup winner Paul Casey of England kept up his title charge after shooting a 65 to share third with Sharma while world number four Justin Thomas slipped to a share of 15th place following a 69.

Malaysia’s Ben Leong kept his composure to finish his second round with a 2-under 70 for total 6-under 138. He shares the T29 spot with six other including PGA TOUR’s newest member Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.

He said, “I played really solid the front nine and kind of lost it on the 10th and 11th. Kind of lost my patience out there, but managed to get it back, came back, made a birdie on the 12th, so yeah, hung in there, stayed patient after the 11th hole. This is my sixth week in a row, so I’m kind of tired, but it is what it is.”

 

Scores after round 2 of the CIMB Classic being played at the par 72, 7005 Yards TPC Kuala Lumpur course (am – denotes amateur):

130 – Gary Woodland (USA) 69-61, Marc Leishman (AUS) 68-62.

131 – Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 67-64, Paul Casey (ENG) 66-65.

132 – Austin Cook (USA) 64-68, Bronson Burgoon (USA) 63-69, Scott Piercy (USA) 65-67.

133 – Nick Watney (USA) 66-67, Kevin Chappell (USA) 66-67.

134 – J.B. Holmes (USA) 67-67, Joel Dahmen (USA) 66-68, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 66-68, Billy Horschel (USA) 65-69, Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 66-68.

135 – Kevin Na (USA) 68-67, Keith Mitchell (USA) 70-65, Chesson Hadley (USA) 67-68, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 67-68, Justin Thomas (USA) 66-69.

136 – Byeonghun An (KOR) 66-70, Charles Howell III (USA) 69-67.