The Bandar Malaysia Open will be decided over 54 holes following several weather delays which saw more than 10 hours of play lost throughout the week.
The third round of the US$1 million event, which got underway at 12.15pm local time, was suspended due to lightning threats at 2.05pm just before overnight leader Andrew Dodt of Australia was due to tee off.
With inclement weather expected on Sunday, officials made the decision to shorten the tournament at 4.30pm and abandoned play for the day at the same time due to continued lightning activity in the area.
All 74 players who made the halfway cut set at one-under-par 143 will resume their third and final rounds at 8.30am on Sunday with the last two groups scheduled to tee off at 8.30am and 8.40am respectively.
“The tournament has been affected by several lengthy delays and suspensions due to inclement weather throughout the week,” said Fritz Katzengruber, tournament director for the Asian Tour.
“As a result of the delays and the disruptions that we have suffered, we have taken the decision to reduce the tournament to 54 holes. The decision was made in the best interest of the tournament and our members,” Fritz added.
Timothy Lo (Photo by Masuti Ahmadi)
With a two-day total of 13-under-par 131, Dodt holds a one-shot edge over China’s Liu Yanwei with American duo Jarin Todd and Trevor Simsby a shot further back. Korea’s Charlie Wi, winner of the Malaysian Open in 2006, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino and Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby of Australia will all be within striking distance of the coveted title when play resumes.
Seven Malaysians made the halfway cut including teenage amateur Timothy Lo Tien Ming. At the age of 14 years and 308 days, Lo became the second youngest Malaysian after Gavin Green (14 years and 305 days, 2008 Iskandar Johor Open) to make the halfway cut in an Asian Tour event.
The other Malaysian players who progressed to the third round were professionals Ben Leong, Amir Nazrin, Shahrifuddin Ariffin, Nicholas Fung, Danny Chia and Jeremiah Kim Leunkwang. The best placed among them is Leong in T33 place on four-under-par after six holes of his third round.
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, the Bandar Malaysia Open is the flagship event of the Malaysian Golf Association and is making a return after a four-year hiatus.
