Thongchai Jaidee vaults into contention with 63

Two-time defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand charged into contention at the US$1.25 million Maybank Malaysian Open with a blistering nine-under-par 63 in the second round on Friday.

Thongchai, who is bidding to become the first player on the Asian Tour to win three successive titles, trails David Park by one stroke after the Welshman shot a fine 64 for the clubhouse lead on 13-under-par 131 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Bad weather disrupted play for the second straight day where only 64 players completed their rounds. A total of 84 players will return to the course on Saturday morning ( 7.45am ) to resume their second rounds where 18 players have yet to tee off.

Thongchai's compatriot Thammanoon Srirot also sizzled with a 65 for a share of second place while Spanish star and first round leader Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled with his iron play as he stumbled to a disappointing 77 and slipped 10 shots off the lead.

Shiv Kapur, last year's Volvo Masters of Asia winner, was India 's best performer with a 68 leaving him tied with Amandeep Johl on 140, presently tied at 25th place

It was a stunning comeback to the top by Thongchai, who started his round from the 10th tee. Wielding a hot putter, he birdied the 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th holes and scorched home with birdies on the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh holes.

“Everything worked well. Some holes, I putted well and I had two long ones. The par three, fourth hole was the key for me where I holed from around 20 feet,” said Thongchai, a two-time Asian Tour number one.

“Yesterday the greens were quite slow because of the rain but today, I putted so much better. I like my game right now."

Thammanoon, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, felt right at home playing at the KL course, which he said reminded him of his home course in Thailand . He snared eight birdies against a lone bogey.

“The course really suits my game. It is very similar to my home course, it's no very long and the greens are almost the same speed as my home course (Navy Course, near Pattaya),” said Thammanoon. "I like this course very much, it's possible for me to win this tournament."

Park was in solid form although he missed several opportunities to streak ahead before the bad weather rolled in the afternoon. "Obviously, I'm hitting the ball nicely. The course suits my game, I'm a very good with my wedges and there are a lot of wedge shots out there," said the 31-year-old Park, who is bidding to end a seven-year winless run on the European Tour.

Dane Soren Kjeldsen shot a 63 to surge into fourth place on 133 while England 's John Bickerton and Korea 's Charlie Wi carded 68s for fifth place, three strokes off the pace.

Danny Chia led the Malaysian charge with a 67 which moved him to tied ninth place on 137. His highlight of the day was a 25-foot eagle at the par five 535 yard 10th hole along with four birdies and a lone bogey.

“I didn't start well as I came out this morning and bogeyed my remaining hole on the par five 18th. It was irritating but I was fortunate to get an eagle on my first hole of the round on 10. After that, I was hitting it all over the place but thanks to my short game, I finished two under on the front nine,” said Chia, who played with Thongchai and Jimenez.

Malaysia 's national amateur champoin S. Sivachandran endured a bitter lesson when he was disqualified after missing his round two tee time. Joy turned to despair for the Malaysian amateur No. 1 as he had completed his first round in five-under-par 67 earlier in the day. But the high spirited Malaysian lost track of the time and arrived at the tee box 10 minutes past his 10.20am start, and was subsequently disqualified.

Play was suspended at 2.52pm because of a lightning storm and officials later abandoned play at 5.25pm .