Justin Thomas shoots a 61 to grab lead in PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic

Justin Thomas had an eagle and nine birdies in shooting a course-record 61 at the CIMB Classic on Friday, taking the lead into the weekend at the PGA Tour’s event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Thomas moved to 15-under 129 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club for a one-stroke lead on American compatriot Brendan Steele, who shot a 63 and matched Thomas by having an eagle at the par-five third hole.

First-round leader Scott Piercy had two bogeys on the front nine to shoot a 69 and was in a share of third place, two shots off the leader, along with Spencer Levin, who had a round of 64, and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who shot 66.

Former No. 1 Adam Scott was at 10 under, and two-time defending champion Ryan Moore at eight under.

For Thomas, a 22-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, this is the third time he has led at the halfway point of a tour event, but is still seeking his first victory.

His superb round, which included six birdies in a seven-hole stretch from Nos. 9 to 15, disguised his physical struggles as he coped with jetlag and the oppressive tropical heat.

“Thank God for the air-conditioning,” he joked as he walked into his post-round media conference.

“I never have been to this part of the world before and my body is still adjusting. Today was a little better. I even slept in, until 5.30 a.m.”

The extra sleep paid off as he briefly threatened the magical score of 59, requiring birdies from two of the last three holes, but he could not get it done.

Nick Watney also shot a 61 in this tournament in 2012 but that was at a different course with a par of 71.

If Thomas keeps up this form, he could comfortably break the tournament record score of 23-under, set by Bo van Pelt in 2011.

Sei Young Kim takes lead at Blue Bay LPGA event

South Korea’s Sei Young Kim took advantage of Chinese teen Lin Xi-yu’s wind-blown collapse to take the second-round lead in the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan Island, China.

Kim made a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th for an even-par 72 in difficult conditions along the South China Sea at Jian Lake Blue Bay. She had a two-under 142 total.

The 19-year-old Lin was seven under and five strokes ahead after five holes, then bogeyed eight of the last 13 holes for a 77 that left her two strokes behind.

The 22-year-old Kim won playoffs this year in the Bahamas and Hawaii in events also played in strong wind on tropical seaside layouts.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen had the best round of the day, a three-under 69 to jump from a tie for 22nd to a tie for second at one under with Taiwan’s Candie Kung and Americans Ryann O’Toole and Austin Ernst.

Van Zyl maintains lead in Turkish Airlines Open

Jaco van Zyl held on to the lead at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya by shooting a three-under 69 in the second round Friday despite struggling on the back nine.

Van Zyl, who is trying to win his first European Tour event, shot a 61 in the first round and stretched his lead to as many as seven shots during the second round with five birdies on his first 10 holes. But he then found the water twice for his first two bogeys of the week, letting English duo Richard Bland and Chris Wood close within two shots of his 14-under total of 130.

Rory McIlroy shot a second straight 67 to sit four shots back in a tie for sixth, one stroke behind Victor Dubuisson and Fabrizio Zanotti.

Bland started with nine straight pars before making seven birdies after the turn for a 65, while Wood’s 66 included seven birdies and a bogey.