Stephen Gallacher and Marc Warren stormed up the leaderboard on the second day of the Maybank championship to raise hopes of a first Scottish win on the European Tour since 2015.
Warren followed up an opening 68 with a 66 to reach halfway at 10 under par, a shot behind joint leaders Nino Bertasio and Phachara Khongwatmai.
Press and Journal columnist Gallacher is one shot further back after a second-round 65 to finish the day tied seventh on 135.
Russell Knox was the last Scot to win a Euro Tour event with success at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in November 2015.
Warren, among the players forced to finish their first rounds yesterday after Thursday’s weather delay, said: “I’m really pleased. On this golf course if you only have one bogey (in two days) your game is going to be pretty solid and I feel every aspect is pretty good, so I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Gallacher said: “I played lovely and holed a few putts when I needed to. I’m delighted to be up there with a chance over the weekend.”
All five of the Scottish representatives were among the 81 players to make the halfway cut at four under par. Scott Jamieson (seven under), Simon Yates (six under) and Richie Ramsay (five under) will all be hoping to move up the leaderboard with a low round today.
Meanwhile, more than two decades after his first victory at Saujana Golf and Country Club, Lee Westwood stormed into contention for his second with a brilliant 62. Westwood, who struggled to an opening 72, is tied third on 10 under.
The former world number one won the Malaysian Open at Saujana in 1997 but has not tasted victory since 2015 and is not exempt for the Masters, an event where he finished second in 2010 and 2016.
“It was enjoyable, there were a lot of birdies going in out there,” the 44-year-old said.
“It’s nice to be in contention and to know this golf course well. I was touring pro for this course, so I’ve probably played it more than most and I know where to hit it.
“I hit it close a lot and it was a pretty pain-free round. I gave myself a lot of birdie chances, so it was a really good ball-striking round.”
