Golf:South African Hennie Otto stole the limelight from his more renowned countrymen to take over at the top of the Malaysian Open leaderboard.
Otto fired an unblemished round of 64 to hold a share of the lead with another South African, Jbe Kruger, on nine-under midway through the second round.
Kruger also carded eight birdies with his only hiccup coming with bogey at the par-five third to go around in 65 today.
It meant their countrymen Louis Oosthuizen, who lost a dramatic play-off to Bubba Watson at the Masters last week, and last year’s Augusta winner Charl
Schwartzel had to take a back seat.
The duo made a 30-hour journey from the United States to Kuala Lumpur to take their place in the field and while Schwartzel showed no ill-effects yesterday, when he shot 64 to take the overnight lead, he laboured this morning.
The 27-year-old carded three bogeys over the front nine to drop three shots off the pace while Oosthuizen was a stroke better off after a single birdie before the turn.
Oosthuizen was level on seven under with former world number one Martin Kaymer and American David Lipsky, who had both completed second-round 67s.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallagher joined the trio with a pair of birdies over his opening eight holes after starting on the back nine.
Danny Willett was the best-placed Englishman on six under after carding back-to-back rounds of 69.
The Yorkshireman’s round was highlighted by eagle at the par-five fifth, as he also mixed three birdies with a pair of bogeys to ensure he will be well-placed for the weekend.
