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.

Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond made an improvement from his opening day result by carding a three-under-par 69 to grab a share of 15^th place at the US$7 million CIMB Classic on Friday.

With rain suspension lasting for more than three hours, Jazz was visibly tired after spending almost 12 hours at the event sanctioned by the PGA Tour and Asian Tour at TPC Kuala Lumpur.

The Thai overcame fatigue and took advantage of the cooler conditions before marking his card with four birdies and one bogey for a two-day total of five-under-par 139.

Compatriot Poom Saksansin had a round to forget as he returned with a 74 to slip from an overnight tied-second place to tied-15^th at the Malaysian showpiece.

Korea’s Sung Kang emerged as the leading Asian when he returned with a 68 to take a share of third place alongside Australia’s Cameron Smith and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters on 135 total.

World number three Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who is the highest ranked player in the field this week, was bunched in eighth place together with six other players.