KUALA LUMPUR: Sweden’s Daniel Chopra posted a six-under-par 66 to take the second round lead at Malaysia’s weather-shortened $2 million Iskandar Johor Open yesterday, as organizers cut the competition from 72 to 54 holes.
Three-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai Nirat of Thailand signed for a 67 to pile the pressure on Chopra, while Filipino Antonio Lascuna is tied third with India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia, Australia’s Unho Park and opening round leader David Lipsky at the Asian Tour’s season-ending event.
“The multiple disruptions that were caused by the weather throughout the week made it a challenge for the tournament to be completed over 72 holes. As such, we have taken the decision to reduce the tournament to 54 holes,” said Asian Tour tournament director Wanchai Meechai.
The third and final round will take place today.
Chopra, who won his first professional title at the 1993 Johor Open and was last year piped to the post by Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, was delighted to take pole position with a two-day total of 10-under-par 134.
Chopra did not start his second round on Friday but the two-time PGA Tour winner quickly made up for lost time by marking his flawless card with six birdies when he returned in the morning.
He completed his round early in the afternoon, just as play was suspended for three hours.
Australia’s Marcus Fraser remained on course to become the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit after he returned with a 68 to lead Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant by two shots. Fraser needs to finish ahead of Thaworn.
Popovic leads
In Coolum, Australia, Rookie Daniel Popovic showed no sign of nerves as he fired a third round three-under-par 69 yesterday to lead the Australian PGA by two shots heading into the final day.
Popovic was in superb touch around the Palmer Coolum Resort course, holding off the challenge from a host of bigger name players to tighten his grip at the top of the leaderboard.
Fellow Australian Anthony Brown was two shots off the pace after shooting an eight-under 64 to ensure an unlikely pairing heading into the final day of the OneAsia co-sanctioned $1.25million tournament.
Australian veteran Peter Senior was a further shot back in equal third alongside Matthew Griffin, keeping alive his hopes of an historic “double double” of winning the Australian Open and PGA in the same year on two occasions.
However, China’s Zhang Xinjun, who was overnight leader with Popovic, had a disappointing day, finishing five behind after firing two over the card.
Zhang was on eight-under alongside former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and the experienced Robert Allenby.
Popovic opened his round with two birdies in the first three holes, but slipped up with bogies at five and eight.
However, he birdied the ninth to be one-under heading into the back nine, then hit three more birdies including one at the difficult 18th to stamp his authority on the tournament.
