INQUIRER Sports

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia -- Mohamad Arie Irawan recovered from a slow start to fire a two-under 70 for a one-stroke lead over overnight leader, Nicholas Fung of Sabah, after the second round of the 106th Malaysian Amateur Open at Kelab Golf Negara Subang Friday.

Sarawak’s Arie, who started at the 365m par-four 10th hole, missed the green with his approach shot and stumbled with a bogey when his six-footer for par just slipped by the cup.

However, the 17-year-old Miri lad steadied his round with five consecutive pars and gained the initiative with two birdies at the tail end of his opening nine.

He made the turn at even-par for the day after dropping another shot at the 18th (his ninth hole for the day).

On the homeward nine, Arie rattled in three birdies (second, third and fifth holes), but closed with a bogey after a loose tee-shot at the 399m par-four ninth hole for a two-day total of seven-under 137.

“Today was all about staying patient. You don’t want to start and end with bogeys, so I’m pleased, I managed that score,” said Arie who is on seven-under 137 after two days.

“I should feel a bit more settled tomorrow.”

Despite his slim advantage, Arie, who felt comfortable being in the lead as he has done so a few times this year, insisted that the main challenge was the course rather than the players in the field.

“I’ll keep it boring tomorrow, hit the fairways, find the greens and make the putts,” he said.

“We’re playing the same golf course and that’s where the challenge is.”

In stark contrast to his birdie binge in the first round, Nicholas could only manage two birdies and two bogeys to end the day on even-par 72 for a two-day total of six-under 138.

Taiwanese Lee Kuan-hung fired three birdies and an eagle at the 452m, par-five 17th hole for a four-under 68, the best round of the day to keep pace with the leaders on five-under 139, tied with Daniel Pearce of New Zealand.

Philippines’ Ferdinand Aunzo had a miserable day, shooting three-over 75 for a two-day total of two-under 142 alongside Malaysian international Hilmi Abd Rahman (71) and Thailand’s Idtiphat Silasuwan (72).

Five players were a stroke further back, including national trainee, Kenneth de Silva who carded a three-under 69.

Malaysia secured the first trophy of the championship, the team competition, largely thanks to Arie’s superb performance. With his partner Akhmal Tarmizee Nazari, the team combined for a seven-under 281 total, three strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Pearce and Sean Riordan.

The third round of the stroke-play event of the 106th Malaysian Amateur Open (also known as the Malaysian Amateur Strokeplay Championship), continues today where the top 80 players will make the cut for the final round tomorrow.

The top 32 finishers from the strokeplay championship will advance to the 106th Malaysian Amateur Open to be played in match play format from May 26-28, also at the same venue.