Published July 17, 2008 on March 6, 2020

Dodt Takes One Stroke Lead at the Bandar Malaysia Open

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Overnight leader Andrew Dodt of Australia continued his bogey-free run by signing for a second-round four-under-par 68 to stay atop the leaderboard at the weather-disrupted Bandar Malaysia Open on Friday.

“It’s hard to back up a 63 but I did with a 68 today, pretty solid. I hit a lot of greens but didn’t hole as many putts as I did yesterday. But all in all, it’s a solid day’s work,” said Dodt.

Dodt, who opened his campaign with a stunning 63, remained in the driver’s seat after returning with a flawless card highlighted by four birdies for a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 at the highly-rated Kota Permai Golf & Country Club.

He added, “I had like a 10-footer down the hill on the last at the top. To see that going in was nice. But I haven’t really hit into any tricky spots so far this week. Nice to stay bogey-free and play some solid golf.”

His overnight two-shot lead, however, was reduced to one by China’s Liu Yanwei, who carded an impressive 65 to take second place in the US$1 million event, which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Play was halted for the second time this week at 4.15 pm local time due to lightning threats. It was later abandoned for the day at 6.00 pm.

A total of 77 players will resume their second rounds at 7.40 am on Saturday with the third round scheduled to start not earlier than 11.30 am.

The halfway cut is projected to be at one-under-par 143 with the leading 65 professionals and ties progressing into the next two rounds.

Asian Development Tour graduate Trevor Simsby of the United States marked the lowest round of the day when he fired a solid 64 to trail by two shots in third place with compatriot Jarin Todd, who posted a 66.

Korea’s Charlie Wi, former winner of the Malaysian Open in 2006, soared with an eagle-birdie-birdie finish from the seventh to register a 66. The 48-year-old Wi, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, sits his fifth place on his own on 135.

Danny Chia and Ben Leong are the leading Malaysians, tied on 4-under-par 140. Both Danny and Ben shot 2-under-par 70 today.

“I had some really bad shots. Overall I’m still quite happy with the way I play. At the 8^th hole, I just hit a bad drive into the water, it was just how it is today. I can’t complain too much about it. I had 2 bad drives today. Like I said before, if I can go through four rounds without any pain in my body, I will accept any score,” said Danny.

He added, “I’m happy with where I stand now (4-under). I putted well and I hit a lot of good shots, got some unlucky breaks, can’t complain much.”

“For the weekend, I’ll go more for pin hunting. The last 2 days I was a bit too conservative with my iron shot, playing away from the pin quite a few times.

At the last hole, it was more of a feel thing, it looked like a lot of downhill line but the ball didn’t seem to roll that much,” said the veteran Malaysian pro, who was short by six inches for a birdie putt on the 18^th.

The highly acclaimed Bandar Malaysia Open, which boasts a new tagline ‘Pride, Passion, Prominence’, is the flagship event for the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA). It returns to the Asian Tour schedule this week after a four-year hiatus.

 

 

Selected scores after round 2 of the Bandar Malaysia Open 2020 being played at the par 72, 7016 Yards Kota Permai GCC course (am – denotes amateur):
131 – Andrew Dodt (AUS) 63-68.
132 – Liu Yanwei (CHN) 67-65.
133 – Jarin Todd (USA) 67-66, Trevor Simsby (USA) 69-64.
135 – Charlie Wi (KOR) 69-66.
136 – Wade Ormsby (AUS) 71-65.
137 – Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 66-71, Sarit Suwannarut (THA) 71-66, Bio Kim (KOR) 71-66.
138 – Hiroshi Iwata (JPN) 68-70.
139 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 66-73, Eunshin Park (KOR) 68-71, Hein Sithu (MYN) 70-69, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 69-70, Sunil Jung (CAN) 74-65.
140 – Angelo Que (PHI) 67-73, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 74-66, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 70-70, Aman Raj (IND) 71-69, Toshinori Muto (JPN) 71-69, Ben Leong (MAS) 70-70, Berry Henson (USA) 73-67, Danny Chia (MAS) 70-70, Danny Masrin (INA) 72-68, Tomoharu Otsuki (JPN) 73-67.
141 – Amir Nazrin (MAS) 71-70, Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-70, Dodge Kemmer (USA) 69-72, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 71-70, Josh Younger (AUS) 67-74, Rahil Gangjee (IND) 69-72.
142 – Lo Tien Ming (am, MAS) 72-70, Jake Higginbottom (AUS) 69-73, Leunkwang Kim (MAS) 71-71, Poom Saksansin (THA) 74-68, Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE) 73-69, Tatsuya Kodai (JPN) 72-70, Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN) 71-71.