Branden Grace shot a second round 67 to move up 29 places to sit in a share of 15th place after 36 holes at the rain-affected CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Grace, who needed a move after an opening 72, opened with a birdie and made two more without any blemishes on his front nine to move steadily up the leaderboard on a day where heavy rain wreaked havoc with the afternoon field.
The 29-year-old made his only drop at the first, but responded sharply with birdies at the par 5s – third and fifth holes – to continue his climb up inside the top 20. A birdie two on the par 3 eighth hole saw him move to five-under for the day and the round. Grace is eight shots behind leader Pat Perez, who fired a 65 on Friday to follow his first round 66.
Perez leads by one from Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele, who came home in 33 to card a second round 67. The highlight of the young American’s round was an eagle 3 on the third hole that kick-started his day.
Overnight leader Cameron Smith could only muster a 71 on Friday as he dropped down to a share of third with South Korean Sung Kang and big-hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters.
Down in a tie for 33rd place are Justin Thomas and SA’s Charl Schwartzel. Both followed up their opening 70s with 71s on Friday, and will need a big ‘moving day’ if they are to battle for anything more than the minor places on Sunday.
Photo: How Foo Yeen/Getty Images
