Justin Thomas flirted with a 59 before settling for a course record 11-under-par 61 to take a one-stroke lead over Brendan Steele halfway through the CIMB Classic at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The 22-year-old Thomas, whose only victory as a pro came in the 2014 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on the Web.com Tour, collected nine birdies and an eagle to post a 36-hole score of 15-under 129.
“I would say after I birdied 14, 15, I knew I just needed to get, I guess, two of my last three,” said Thomas, who could manage only three finishing pars. “And then, I mean, they’re all pretty easy holes. They’re all wedge holes. So it was obviously unfortunate not to get that number (59), but I’m sure I’ll have many more chances in my career.
“Being 5-under through the first five holes, which are pretty score-able, made a difference. That got me in that attack mind-frame. I did well and gave myself easy birdie putts.”
Steele, who is from Idyllwild and UC Riverside and claimed his only PGA Tour victory in the 2011 Valero Texas Open, had seven birdies and an eagle on the third hole while recording a bogey-free 63.
Spencer Levin of Elk Grove carded a bogey-free 64 and was two strokes back in a tie for third with Hideki Matsuyama, who had a 66, and first-round leader Scott Piercy of San Diego State, who followed his 62 with a 69.
Stewart Cink birdied three of his last four holes to shoot 64 and was another shot back in solo sixth, while Kevin Na of Diamond Bar totaled 66 and was four strokes behind in a tie for seventh with Brian Harman, who came in at 63.
Jason Gore of Valencia and Pepperdine had a 68 and was five shots down in a tie for ninth with Adam Scott of Australia and Troy Merritt, who both had 66s.
Two-time defending champion Ryan Moore of Las Vegas carded a 69 and was seven strokes back in a tie for 15th, while Henrik Stenson of Sweden, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 7 in the world, was tied for 28th after a 67.
