South African Duo Steal The Limelight On Second Day Of Golf Tournament

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- South Africa's duo of Jbe Kruger and Hannie Otto stole the limelight on the rain halted second day of the 2012 Maybank Malaysian Open golf championship which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club here Friday. Kruger and Otto, who played in the morning session, grabbed a two-shot clubhouse lead in the US$2.5 million competition after accumulating an identical nine-under-par 135 after two rounds. Lightning and thunderstorm suspended play at 4.03pm with 75 players yet to complete their second round play. They resume play at 7.45am Saturday. Among them was current US Masters runners-up, Louis Oosthuizen, also from South Africa, who is currently trailing the leader by just one stroke after completing the 12th hole. In Friday's round, after shooting a two-under 70 yesterday, Kruger shot a seven-under 65 for a two-day total of 135. Kruger, who made 27 putts Friday, is hoping to get his irons hot as he aims to win his second Asian Tour victory in a span of three months. "My game is a little bit better. I've been working on a lot of things and it seems to be coming together which is always a good sign. I just worked a bit on my swing which is not really a 100 per cent yet. "My ball striking used to be my strength and now it is my weakness. I'm trying to make it my strength again," said Kruger, winner of the Avantha Masters in India in February. Otto, a two-time European Tour champion, who did not play a practice round earlier in the week, was rewarded with a flawless round highlighted by eight birdies. "I played the course blind yesterday because I was first reserve for the pro-am and was expecting to get into that and used it as my practice round but it didn't happen. "I walked the course on Wednesday so had an idea but it is obviously a lot different when you come to play it. I had never been here before so it was a decent start. Today, I felt a lot more comfortable on the greens and made the putts, which is the difference," said Otto. Two strokes adrift were former world number one, Martin Kaymer of Germany and David Lipsky of the US. After posting a two-under par 70 in the opening round, Kaymer gained back his composure and managed to shoot a five-under 67 on the second round. "I played really well today and gave myself a lot of birdie chances. I had a good eagle chance on three and felt like I hit a lot of good putts but maybe just over-read the greens. "I am seven under for the tournament now which is good and I feel good about the game and if I can make a few more putts, I feel I can really get into the tournament," said Kaymer. Lipsky, winner of the HANDA FALDO Cambodian Classic last month, continued his Asian sojourn with a solid 65 where he chipped-in from 75 yards for an eagle on the third hole and was delighted that he had the chance playing with the best players in the region and Europe. -- BERNAMA