KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Defending champion Justin Thomas shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead halfway through the CIMB Classic, staying within striking distance of his own tournament record at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
Thomas shared the first-round lead with fellow Americans Keegan Bradley and Derek Fathauer at 64, and followed up with a bogey-free round to get to 14 under. Thomas finished at 26-under 262 last year for his first PGA Tour title.
“The thing about this course, you can go shoot 12- or 13-under in a day,” Thomas said, “so hopefully I can get it going a little bit this weekend … like I did last year.”
Asian Tour leader Anirban Lahiri of India was second after a 66. He closed with a double bogey for the second straight day.
Scotland’s Russell Knox (63) was 11 under along with American James Hahn (64) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama. Fathauer (70) was tied for sixth at 10 under, and Bradley (71) was 8 under.
Ryan Moore, the 2013 and 2014 winner, and Brendan Steele, the winner last week at Silverado in California, also were 8 under. Moore had a 65 and Steele recorded a 69.
LPGA: Minjee Lee patiently navigated Jian Lake’s undulating greens again to stretch her lead to six strokes in the Blue Bay LPGA at Hainan, China.
Already a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, the 20-year-old Australian followed her opening 7-under 65 with a bogey-free 67 in windier afternoon conditions off Hainan Clear Water Bay.
Three days after Typhoon Sarika roared through the South China Sea beach resort, the wind finally picked up as Lee played the back nine. The wind makes it more difficult to hit targets in valleys and on plateaus on the large, tiered greens.
Germany’s Caroline Masson was second at 6 under after her second straight 69. She birdied four of the last five holes – the lone par coming on a 3-foot birdie miss on the par-4 15th.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and American Jessica Korda were 5 under.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Defending champion Andy Sullivan shot a 10-under 61 for a share of the Portugal Masters lead at Vilamoura, Portugal.
The Englishman won last year by a record nine shots. He matched Scotland’s Mark Warren (65) at 14-under 128 at Oceanico Victoria.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (63) and Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring (64) were a stroke back, and American David Lipsky, United States (66) was 12 under.
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