Danny Willett opened up a one-shot lead early on day two of the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia.
The Englishman arrived at Royal Selangor Golf Club fresh off the back of his victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic a fortnight ago, a win which propelled him to a career-high 13th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
A back nine of 31 on Thursday had moved him to within a stroke of overnight leader Nathan Holman and, while he took three more shots on that half in the second round, that was enough to see him leapfrog the Australian.
The 28 year old, who started on the tenth, then parred the first four holes on the front nine to move to eight under with five to play.
Willett birdied the 12th and 13th, where he had chipped in for eagle yesterday, and then picked up a further shot on the 16th before giving it back on the 18th.
Holman, who was a later starter, was then at seven under with Willett's playing partners Thongchai Jaidee and Louis Oosthuizen in the group a further shot back.
The South African had a bogey on the 11th but gains on the 12th, 13th and 17th, while Jaidee picked up shots on the 13th and second with a bogey on the 18th.
American David Lipsky had five birdies and two bogeys through 11 holes to also sit at six under, alongside Spaniard Jorge Campillo, Japan's Masahiro Kawamura, Australian Marcus Fraser, South Korea's Soomin Lee and Filipino duo Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que.
