Atwal out in front

India’s Arjun Atwal will take a three-shot lead into the delayed third round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open today.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was five off the lead alongside Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot after consecutive rounds of 66, with former European number one Lee Westwood a stroke further adrift after a 67.

Westwood resumed on the seventh hole this morning and started badly with a bogey there and another on the ninth, but recovered with four birdies on the back nine to offer more signs his long slump could be coming to an end.

Atwal was among 73 players unable to complete their rounds on schedule yesterday after a violent 90-minute thunderstorm flooded the Mines Resort course.

The 29-year-old had completed seven holes in four under par before the heavens opened and was one stroke ahead of world number five Retief Goosen, who had earlier carded a 64.

Resuming this morning at 8am local time, Atwal managed to save par from a greenside bunker on the eighth hole and parred the ninth to be out in 31.

Two birdies in his last four holes then saw him add a 65 to his opening 62 for a 15-under-par total of 127 – the lowest first 36 holes of the 2003 season and joint lowest score in relation to par, matching Ernie Els’ 15 under for the first 36 holes last week in Perth.

That gave Atwal, the first Indian golfer to win on the European tour when he claimed the Singapore Masters last year, a three-shot lead over Goosen with Korea’s Ted Oh a shot further back.

Atwal, who admits he blundered by playing too many tournaments (39) last year trying to capitalise on his win in Singapore, said: “I had a tough shot on the resumption as my ball was in between the two bunkers in the rough on the eighth and I had a lie which was well above my feet.

“I hit it left into the bunker and had a really tough shot but managed to get up and down for par. I hit it solidly after that but just didn’t hole as many putts as yesterday.

“But it’s a nice position to be in. I’m going to eat something now and try and get as much rest as possible before starting again this afternoon.”

The third round is scheduled to start at approximately 1.30pm local time, with the leaders due out at around 3.15pm.