Forsyth leads Carlsberg Malaysian Open

Scotland's Alastair Forsyth kept up his hot pace in the US$1 million Carlsberg Malaysian Open, powering into the halfway lead on Friday with Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin and Korea's Anthony Kang in close pursuit.

The 26-year-old Forsyth, the joint overnight leader, fired a six-under-par 65 at Royal Selangor Golf Club's Old Course to add to his opening 63 and holds a one-shot edge over Martin, the day's best shooter with a dazzling 63.

Las Vegas-based Kang rolled putts home as effortlessly as rolling the dice to post a 65 for a 131 aggregate and is three shots behind the leader.

The Carlsberg Malaysian Open, the richest national Open in Asia, is jointly sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian PGA-run Davidoff Tour.

Six-time Major winner Nick Faldo, one of the tournament's star attractions, saw his recent resurgence wilt in the searing Malaysian heat and high humidity. The weary 44-year-old Englishman missed the halfway cut after a 79, which was 11 shots worse than his opening day's effort.

Playing on a sponsor's invite, Forsyth has outshone the elite field although he has also struggled in the tough playing conditions. Play was suspended for an hour after heavy rain lashed the course in the late afternoon but all the players managed to complete their second rounds.

"I felt a lot better than yesterday, it felt a lot cooler but on the last few holes I still felt a bit funny. I took some rehydration salt and ate some powerbars on the course which probably helped. I've kept out of trouble and made only one bogey in two rounds, which coincidentally came straight after the rain interruption. My game is pretty solid and I'm keeping it in play. My short irons have been the key and I'm hitting it quite close and taking the chances. When we came out after the break, I thought we wouldn't finish. It was a bonus to complete the round," said Forsyth, who knocked in seven birdies against a lone bogey.

The 39-year-old Martin blitzed the front nine of the Old Course to set the early lead. The Spaniard posted a 29 on the opening stretch before signing for a course record-equalling 63.

Martin, a three-time winner on the European Tour, said: "I putted fantastic, took only 25 putts. I enjoyed that (63) very much. I wasn't feeling good this morning and slept very bad last night. I was feeling weak but I kept my concentration."

The injury-plagued Spaniard, playing on a medical exemption this season, got off to a great start by chipping in for birdie on the first hole and then saved par from eight feet after a wayward drive on two. He struck a brilliant three wood to eight feet to set up a second successive eagle on the par five third hole before rolling in three birdies on the trot. Another birdie on nine saw Martin make the turn on 29.

"At the turn, I thought I could break 60 but the back nine here is difficult. Today on this course, I played 10 out of 10. I can do a little better, not much but a little bit. I'm using my third set of golf clubs this year. I had TaylorMade fly in some new clubs, so I hope to keep them for a while," said Martin, who has posted the magical 59 in his career.

Kang, a two-time winner on the Davidoff Tour, moved into prime position for another big payday thanks to a hot putter. "I've not felt this good about my putting for a long time. It was nice to see them go in from all distances. I 've not done anything different. Just stand over it, close my eyes and pray!

"My ball striking is coming around and probably the work that I've been doing with my new coach back home is starting to show. I'm also sponsored by Carlsberg this week and it's nice to repay them by being on the board," said Kang, who putted in from 20 feet on 11, 15 feet on 14 and 25 feet on the fifth.

Last week's Caltex Singapore Masters winner Arjun Atwal saw his fortunes nosedive as he missed the halfway cut with his seven-over 149 total. But his namesake Arjun Singh kept alive the Indian interest. He conjured a second 67 for a 134 total and is six off the pace.

"Atwal's win last week was good for us. It will motivate us to work harder and we now know that one of us can come up on top (in the big events). Harmeet Kahlon won in the previous week (Hero Honda Masters), so hopefully, there will be another Indian winner," said Singh, whose card included six birdies against a double bogey at the 13th where he three-putted.

Faldo's revival which has seen him finish 10th, sixth and third in three tournaments this year was derailed in disappointing fashion. On the last hole, a wayward approach saw his ball bounce off the cart path and onto part of the clubhouse terrace. It resulted in a double bogey six.

"I felt terrible last night and this morning. You just feel full of water. I feel like a jellyfish. I couldn't do anything today. I've not played in humidity like this. Even Arjun Atwal (his playing partner) said this is as bad as he has played in," said Faldo.

Kiwi star Michael Campbell, who worked his way to seven under for the day before two late bogeys, moved to tied 13th place with his 66 and 135 total while Irishman Padraig Harrington and Ian Woosnam of Wales were tied 20th after rounds of 67 and 69 respectively.

The cut was set at one-under 141, with 77 players making it through to the weekend play.

Leading second round scores
128 - Alastair Forsyth (SCO) 63-65
129 - Miguel Angel Martin (ESP) 66-63
131 - Anthony Kang (KOR) 66-65
132 - Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 65-67
133 - Alex Cejka (GER) 68-65, Philip Golding (ENG) 66-67, Maarten Lafeber (HOL) 66-67
134 - Mike Cunning (USA) 69-65, Arjun Singh (IND) 67-67, Stephen Leaney (AUS) 67-67, Ricardo Gonzalez (ARG) 65-69, Barry Lane (ENG) 63-71
135 - Andrew Pitts (USA) 69-66, Michael Campbell (NZL) 69-66, Richard Johnson (SWE) 68-67, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68-67
136 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 69-67, Carlos Rodiles (ESP) 67-69, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 66-70
137 - Joakim Haeggman (SWE) 72-65, Padraig Harrington (IRE) 70-67, Des Terblanche (RSA) 70-67, John Bickerton (ENG) 70-67, Steen Tinning (DEN) 69-68, Andrew Coltart (SCO) 69-68, Thomas Levet (FRA) 68-69, Sushi Ishigaki (JPN) 68-69, Ian Woosnam (WAL) 68-69 Zhang Lian-Wei (PRC) 68-69 Harmeet Kahlon (IND) 65-72