Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher moved into the lead as the third round of the Maybank Malaysian Open began at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
The 37 year old, second to Rafael Cabrera-Bello at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February, had returned to the course early on day three to complete his second round after lightning forced an early finish on Friday.
Gallacher moved to one off the pace at the halfway stage, with Louis Oosthuizen continuing his remarkable form at the start of the day.
The 29 year old South African, who led the Shell Houston Open after three rounds two weeks ago before finishing third, then produced a tremendous display at The Masters Tournament before narrowly missing out on a second Major Championship, moved to ten under par with birdies at the 14th and 15th.
In soft conditions the third round provided something of a birdie-fest early on, and Gallacher joined in the fun with a ten footer at the second for a share of the lead.
Gallacher added further birdies at the third and fifth – both par fives – but then saved par brilliantly from ten feet after pitching through the green at the seventh.
Oosthuizen, who made a 30-hour journey from Augusta National, found sand off the tee at the first three holes, although he managed to salvage par on every occasion. He found his form once more at the fourth though, and a two there was followed by another birdie at the 518 yard next.
But a second bogey of the week at the sixth left him 11 under, one behind Gallacher – whose only European Tour win came at the 2004 Dunhill Links Championship.
In-form Cabrera-Bello was in the hunt again, turning in a five under par 31 after starting his third round with a hattrick of birdies to reach ten under par, where he was joined in a share of third place by Wales’ Rhys Davies and American David Lipsky.
