Rhys Davies established a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the weather-affected Maybank Malaysian Open today after completing a three-under-par second round on the third morning at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
After over two hours were lost yesterday due to lightning, 58 players returned early this morning and Welshman Davies picked up three shots in seven holes to move to 10 under par and ahead of 2006 Russian Open champion Alejandro Canizares.
Spaniard Canizares had posted the overnight clubhouse lead at eight under after racing to complete a three-under-par 69 in near darkness last night.
"I don't mind the delays, it gives you a chance to focus on something else for a short period of time," said Davies.
"It is part of the game and you have to expect this sort of delay in this part of the world.
"If you are at the top the delays give you somewhat of a boost so the delay doesn't affect me too much."
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat topped the leaderboard by one shot overnight after chipping in from 30 yards, but the burly 20-year-old played his final four holes this morning in two over to sign for a 69 and slip back into a group of six tied for third at seven under par.
KJ Choi (70), Ignacio Garrido (72), Soren Hansen (67), Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee (71) and Angelo Que (67) joined Kiradech, with Brett Rumford (67) and Johan Edfors (69) a further shot off the pace rounding out the top 10.
After ending the second day on a low note with a bogey, after holing out from 50 feet for a birdie three holes earlier, Davies made an ideal start this morning with a superb wedge approach into the second green for a third birdie of the round.
And Davies thrust himself firmly into contention for a maiden European Tour title after winning twice on the Challenge Tour last year by holing out from the edge of the green two holes later for an eagle.
"We have such a long way to go. We are just through the halfway mark and there are so many good players out there," said the 24-year-old.
"There's a very good course in front on you and you have to work your way around it so I'm not thinking about winning a first title at the moment.
"You have to treat every tournament equally and if you do that, you won't feel up and down in certain situations."
Davies actually cut his teeth on the Asian Tour in 2008 with three top-10 finishes before claiming second at the Thailand Open last year.
