* U.S. Masters runner-up a stroke ahead of Gallacher
* Bad weather halts play for second consecutive day
(Updates at close)
April 14 (Reuters) – Louis Oosthuizen remained on target to
successfully move on from last week’s heartbreak of narrowly
missing out on a U.S. Masters victory with a one-shot lead after
the unfinished third round at the Malaysian Open on Saturday.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher trailed South African
Oosthuizen by one shot at 12-under par with seven holes of his
third round remaining, while Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Danny Willett
and David Lipsky were tied for third on 10-under.
Oosthuizen, who also led by a stroke at the halfway stage of
the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event, is still
recovering from losing out to American Bubba Watson on the
second extra hole in Augusta on Sunday.
The 2010 British Open champion was at 13-under par after 10
holes of the penultimate round when thunderstorms and rain ended
play early for the second consecutive day at the Kuala Lumpur
Golf Country Club.
“You never know with the weather here so you are trying to
get ahead of the guys just in case all of a sudden it becomes a
54 hole event,” Oosthuizen told reporters.
“I feel good now. I made good putts on nine and ten for
birdie and I have another birdie putt to come back to in the
morning so it feels really good. I am playing well and just have
to keep giving myself chances.”
The four-time European Tour winner made a 30-hour journey
from Augusta National to take part in the $2.5 million
tournament in the Malaysian capital and, with his family around,
he was still struggling to get over the jet lag.
Continued…
