Harrington enters the weekend with a one-stroke lead in Malaysia
Irishman Padraig Harrington, chasing his first win in two years, is halfway there after firing a five-under-par 67 today, putting him atop the leaderboard at the Iskandar Johor Open in
Malaysia after two rounds of play.
The Ryder Cup star followed up his opening round of 64 with a solid day of golf to enter the weekend at 13-under-par at the Asian Tour event, just one-stroke ahead of Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang,
who had the best round of the day with a 65.
Korea’s Lee Sung shot a bogey-free round of 68 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club, putting him three shots back of the lead. Three players, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, Australia’s
Scott Hend, and Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Noh Seung-yul of Korea, will enter the weekend four shots off the lead at nine-under-par.
Harrington, a three-time major winner, said he didn’t play particularly well but was saved by some long putts late in the round. Ending his round on the front-nine, the 39-year-old drained
a 35-foot birdie putt on the third hole as well as a 25-footer for eagle on the par-five sixth hole. After shooting a lackluster one-under-par 35 on his first nine holes, he finished strong with a four-under-par 32.
“I didn’t play as well as a 67 and I got a few breaks on the back nine,” he said after the round. “I struggled quite a lot. I holed a long putt which got my round going a bit, hit two
nice shots to make eagle but still had to hole a 25 footer which was a bit of a bonus to come back like that. After 11 holes, I would have settled for one or two under. Five under is certainly a bonus.”
Lin, who offset two bogeys with nine birdies on a windy day, shot the round of the day and was happy with his play.
“The tee shots were very good, the short game was good. Seven under, I’m very happy,” said the 36-year-old. “I like the strong winds. I’m comfortable.”
Hend, who has two fourth-place finishes in his last four starts, had an eagle, four birdies, and a lone bogey to shoot 67, going into the weekend four shots behind.
“I’m happy with my score and I’m up there. I’m playing like how I used to play,” said Hend, who hasn’t won on the Asian Tour since 2008. “I need a win. I need to keep the head screwed
on. It’s just concentration.”
Both the defending champion Retief Goosen and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie sit at three-under, nine shots off the pace.
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