KUALA LUMPUR, October 28, 2011 (AFP) - A jet-lagged and sunburnt Jeff Overton set a new course record to share the lead at the half-way point of the $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in sweltering Malaysia on Friday.
The American, who has never won on the PGA Tour and had less than a day's notice that he was competing, made one eagle and seven birdies to card a nine-under-par 62 in the co-sanctioned PGA Tour and Asian Tour showpiece.
It was the big-hitting Overton's lowest score on the PGA Tour and he shares the lead with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, who made a strong 64. They sit at the top of the leaderboard on 13-under-par 129.
It might have been even better for Overton, a 28-year-old from Indiana, but he narrowly missed a birdie on the final hole. He looked rueful momentarily before affording himself a small grin.
Fellow American Bo Van Pelt was in third, a shot behind, after he carded a 64.
"A couple of weeks ago I changed clubs. They are awesome and just everything clicked today and I made every putt," said a delighted Overton, who was on the plane to Kuala Lumpur -- via London -- at just 12 hours' notice.
"I got really excited about coming here because I wanted to come last year," he said, revealing that the clubs that he says have been central to his form failed to immediately arrive with him.
"The clubs came just in time for the tournament, but I felt quite jet-lagged today and at the first hole I told my caddy I didn't think that I would make it through," said Overton, adding he feared he had got sunburn.
"I just wish I had put that last one in," he said of his narrow birdie chance at the last.
In contrast, it was a disappointing day for first-round leader Robert Allenby at The Mines Resort & Golf Club.
He fired a highly impressive 63 on day one, but it went wrong for the experienced Australian on Friday, as he had to settle for a 72.
At one point he was forced to pick through trees to search for his ball after skewing his shot. He could barely conceal his disgust with himself as he trudged off the sun-kissed course.
Former world number one Vijay Singh surged into contention with an impressive seven-under-par 64 to add to his 72 on the first day, leaving him tied 13th.
"After yesterday I was pretty disappointed with my round. I didn't play well," said the Fijian.
"So I said I'm going to go out and play aggressive and see if I can shoot five, six, seven under, which I did, so I'm back in it. I have to shoot good numbers in the last two days to have a chance."
Leading second round scores from the co-sanctioned US PGA Tour and Asian Tour $6.1-million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Kuala Lumpur on Friday:
(par 71)
129 - Jeff Overton (USA) 67-62, Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 65-64
130 - Bo Van Pelt (USA) 66-64
133 - Mark Wilson (USA) 67-66, Stewart Cink (USA) 67-66, Jimmy Walker (USA) 66-67, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 64-69
134 - Cameron Tringale (USA) 66-88
135 - Camilo Villegas (COL) 69-66, Jerry Kelly (USA) 69-66, Robert Allenby (AUS) 63-72, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 68-67