19 February 2005	Saturday	09 Muharram 1426

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18: Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand spoilt Thomas Bjorn's 34th birthday celebrations with three late birdies to finish two strokes clear in the Malaysian Open second round on Friday.

Thongchai again showed his liking for the Saujana course in Kuala Lumpur with a six-under-par round of 66 to move to 14 under in the co-sanctioned Asian and European Tour event.

Bjorn, seeking his eighth tour victory, fired nine birdies in an eight-under-par 64. Thailand's Prom Meesawat (65) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson (64) were next best on 11 under par, with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (67) and Sweden's Peter Gustafsson (65) tied in fifth spot on nine under, two ahead of Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Gary Murphy.

SECOND ROUND SCORES:

130 Thongchai Jaidee 64 66

132 Thomas Bjorn 68 64

133 Henrik Stenson 69 64, Prom Meesawat 68 65

135 Peter Gustafsson 70 65, Miguel Angel Jimenez 68 67

136 Simon Dyson 68 68, Pelle Edberg 67 69.

BOWDITCH LEADS

SYDNEY: Australia's Steven Bowditch opened up a commanding five-stroke lead after the second round of the South Australian Open at Royal Adelaide on Friday. The 21-year-old shot a second consecutive round of five-under-par 67 to reach the halfway stage at 10 under par.

LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES:

134 Steven Bowditch 67 67

139 Greg Chalmers 68 71, Keoke Cotner 69 70, Chris Tidland 71 68, Dan Olsen 69 70, Brent Schwarzrock 70 69, Brian Kortan 69 70

140 Barry Cheesman 70 70, Douglas Labelle 72 68, Dean Pappas 72 68.

DAVIS GRABS LEAD

TORONTO: Britain's Brian Davis fired an opening round six-under 65 to grab the first round lead at the Nissan Open on Thursday, while Tiger Woods and twice champion Mike Weir lurked two shots back after solid starts.

An eight-year European Tour veteran trying his luck on the U.S. circuit after winning a spot at qualifying school, Davis began the day in style with an eagle on his first hole at Los Angeles' Riviera Country Club.

FIRST ROUND SCORES:

65 Brian Davis

66 Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Brett Quigley

67 Jose Coceres, Adam Scott, Tiger Woods, Kevin Sutherland, Omar Uresti, Mike Weir, James Driscoll, Jerry Kelly, Steve Elkington, Rod Pampling, Bob Tway, Hunter Mahan, Ryuji Imada, Chris Starkjohann, Jose Maria Olazabal, Chad Campbell, Justin Leonard. -Agencies