Malacca, Malaysia: Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit leader Casey O’Toole carded a second consecutive five-under-par 67 to grab the halfway lead by two shots at the PGM Tiara Championship on Thursday.
The 25-year-old American, who has secured eight top-10s so far this season, edged closer towards a maiden victory after he fired one eagle and four birdies against a lone bogey for a 10-under-par 134 total at the Tiara Melaka Golf and Country Club.
Overnight leader Mars Pucay of the Philippines battled to a 70 to share second place with American Sejun Yoon, who returned with the day’s best score of 64 at the RM200,000 (approx. US$50,000) ADT event.
Finland’s Janne Kaske, who secured his first ADT win in May, stayed a further two shots back in fourth place following a 68 while Wisut Artjanawat of Thailand posted a 70 to take fifth on 139.
Lim Eng Seng (69) emerged as the highest placed Malaysian in tied-sixth position on 140 with Indonesian Andrew Wirawan (72) at the PGM Tiara Championship, which is the 25th leg of the ADT schedule this season.
O’Toole, one of the most consistent players on the region’s burgeoning Tour, hopes to stay true to his form as he remains patient for a breakthrough victory.
“I have played well all year and I really don't think about winning too much. I just want to play my game and I believe it will happen when it is supposed to.
“I need to drive the ball a bit better on the weekend and just keep giving myself a lot of chances. I just need to play my own game in the next two rounds,” said O’Toole, who hails from Alabama.
Starting from the 10th hole, O’Toole traded three birdies against a bogey to turn in 34. He marked a flawless homeward nine with another birdie on the second and made an eagle on the seventh hole for the second straight time this week.
“I hit a really nice drive today on the seventh and only had a mid-iron in. I sank a 30-footer for eagle on that hole for both days. I made a few putts from mid-range today in the middle of my round which really kept me going,” O’Toole added.
The halfway cut was set at eight-over-par 152 with a total of 55 players progressing into the final two rounds.
With only three events left to play this season, players will have all to play for as they vie to finish inside top-five on the Order of Merit at the end of the season to secure their playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2016.
With the Olympic Games looming in 2016 where golf will be reintroduced as a medal sport, players in the region could earn their spots in Rio de Janeiro by earning OWGR points through the Asian Tour and ADT.
The ADT is celebrating its sixth season where it has grown immensely from five events in the first year in 2010 to a record 27 tournaments in 2015.
For more information on the ADT, please visit www.asiandevelopmenttour.com
Leading second round scores:
134 – Casey O’TOLE (USA) 67-67
136 – Mars PUCAY (PHI) 66-70, Sejun YOON (USA) 72-64
138 – Janne KASKE (FIN) 70-68
139 – Wisut ARTJANAWAT (THA) 69-70
140 – LIM Eng Seng (MAS) 71-69, Andrew WIRAWAN (INA) 68-72
141 – Supravee PHATAM (THA) 71-70, Jordan SHERRATT (AUS) 74-67
142 – Nirun SAE_UENG (THA) 73-69, Shaaban HUSSIN (MAS) 73-69, Airil Rizman ZAHARI (MAS) 69-73
