A year ago American Pro Golfer Pat Perez kept Golf courses at bay. The reason: A surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder deterred him from playing his favourite sport. But today, he proved that injuries cannot impede the spirit of a true Golfer.

 

Pat Perez birdied six of his last eight holes closing in 6-under 30 for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead in Malaysia.

 

 

 

He did it, too, despite a four-hour rain delay interrupting his round. Perez actually started the round with an early bogey at the 12th (he teed off on No. 10). He then birdied 13 and 14 before his final-nine barrage. Perez is 13 under overall for the tournament and has just one bogey in 36 holes.

 

The 41-year-old’s best finish in this event since it became an official PGA Tour tournament is a tie for 33rd, although he did place solo ninth in 2012 before it earned PGA Tour status.

 

Lahiri, lying tied 8th overnight dropped to tied 23rd after a round of 73, while Chawrasia, lying close to the bottom after 16 holes in the second, picked himself with two closing birdies for a 71. Chawrasia is now tied 45, almost the same where he had started.

 

Lahiri’s 73 was his first over-par round in the last 14 rounds at TPC Kuala Lumpur, a period during which he won the Malaysian Open and finished tied 3rd at 2016 CIMB.

 

Xander Schauffele, who was voted the 2016-2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, eagled the par-three fifth hole from 27-feet to stay a further shot back following a 67 in the event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour.

 

Sung Kang (68) of Korea, a winner on the Asian Tour, overnight leader Cameron Smith (71) of Australia and Thomas Pieters (67) of Belgium shared third place on matching 135s to lie four shots back of the lead.