SAN MAARTIN, California — American John Mallinger posted seven birdies and an eagle to power to a four-shot lead after Friday's second round of the Frys.com Open here. Searching for his maiden win on the Tour, Mallinger was flawless with a course-record equaling nine-under 62, remaining bogey-free through the opening two rounds to reach 14-under 128 at CordeValle Golf Club. The 33-year-old pulled away from the leading pack when he knocked in an 11-foot putt for eagle on the 15th hole and then stepped on the gas with birdies on the 17th and 18th. Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (67) and American Billy Horschel (65) finished the day tied for second at 10-under. Australian overnight leader Nick O'Hern couldn't maintain his course record tying rage from the opening day, backing up his 62 with an even par 71 to share fourth place with Belgian Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts (68) and American Scott Dunlap (63) at nine-under. Choi protects lead In Malaysia, defending champion Na-yeon Choi of South Korea battled to a 3-under 68 Saturday to keep a two shot lead after a rain-interrupted third round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. Choi birdied the first hole but rain then halted play for more than four hours. Choi finished with four birdies and a lone bogey on the 10th hole for a 13-under total of 200. Fellow South Korean Park Inbee is two shots back after putting up the day's best score of 65, while Karrie Webb of Australia is another two shots back after a 68. Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who produced a 7-under 64 Friday, could not repeat her blistering form and finished the day with a 70 to slip to jointh fourth with Ai Miyazato of Japan on 8-under 205. Pettersen was still in contention and only a stroke behind Choi at the turn but her chances faded after a double bogey on the 15th and another bogey on the 16th. No. 2-ranked Stacy Lewis of the US holds a share of 28th spot after finishing with a 73 for a three-day aggregate of 212. Together with Tseng, they are the only players to win three times on the LPGA Tour this year. Liang leads Masters In China, Liang Wenchong of China will take a two-shot lead over Aaron Townsend of Australia into the final round of the China Masters after shooting a 3-under 68 Saturday. Liang carded four birdies to go with one bogey for a total of 10-under 203. Townsend (69) remained alone in second after a round that featured four birdies and two bogeys. It could have even been better after his tee shot on the par-3 17th hit the flag and stop an inch from the hole. Y.E. Yang (68) of South Korea was four shots back in third. Three others, including Garrett Sapp, were a further three shots back. — Agencies
