Asian Tour: Yuan and Varadan grab halfway lead at Malaysian Open, Hong Kong’s Kho makes cut after birdie blitz
- Malaysian rookie Khavish Varadan shoots a six-under-par 65 to move to 13 under at top of the leaderboard alongside Kevin Yuan
- Taichi Kho cards a 66 to move to five under, making the cut on the number in Kuala Lumpur
Khavish Varadan continued his dream debut in the Malaysian Open on Friday, taking a share of the halfway the lead with Australian Kevin Yuan.
Malaysian rookie Varadan, who only turned professional last month, fired a six-under-par 65 to move to 13-under, with Yuan carding a 64 at The Mines Resort & Golf Club.
American John Catlin was one shot further back after a 65 in the Asian Tour’s season opener.
“I stayed patient and I tried to birdie one in every three holes and I did exactly that,” the 23-year-old Varadan said. “It’s great to be in contention and to win your national Open is like winning a major.”
Korean Guntaek Koh, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, and England’s Steve Lewton are tied for fifth, at 11 under.
Overnight leaders Jazz Janewattananond and Veer Ahlawat were unable to repeat their stunning opening 62s. The former carded a 70 and is one of those on 10 under, while the latter fired a 71 and is a shot further back.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho recovered from an even-par first round to shoot a five under 66, making the cut on the number. The only blip on his card was a bogey at the par-4 12th.
Malaysian No 1 Gavin Green surprisingly missed the cut. After opening with a 64, his five over 76 left him at two under for the tournament.
