Pat Perez claims one-stroke lead at CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Pat Perez leads by one stroke halfway through the CIMB Classic after carding a 7-under-par 65 around a four-hour delay for rain on Friday. Fellow American Xander Schauffele was on Perez’s tail after a long-range eagle on No. 3 set up his 5-under 67. Defending champion Justin Thomas had another poor round by his high standards, a 71. A three-peat at TPC Kuala Lumpur, where he clinched his first PGA TOUR title in 2015, seems a tall order. Two bogeys compounded by a double bogey on the 12th meant Thomas was 10 shots behind Perez, at 3 under for the tournament. Perez, meanwhile, was hoping for more gusty winds and rain after making eight birdies, including four in a row. He’s at 13-under 131 overall. “I don’t want sunshine at all. It’s too hot, way too hot,” Perez said. “I like it just the way it is right now, perfect. Cloudy, no wind. “I didn’t think I really played that well. I got off to a slow start, I was 1 over through four. We had the break, and … I like the front (nine), I play better on the front.” Sung Kang of South Korea (68), Thomas Pieters of Belgium (67) and overnight leader Cameron Smith of Australia (71) are tied for third, four shots off the pace at 9 under. TOUR Rookie of the Year Schauffele said he was comfortable. “Everything’s kind of coming easy,” Schauffele said. “Today was one of those weird days where (I had) all the breaks. I had some squirrely tee shots and a couple of weird drops. But they all kind of went my way.” More unsettled weather is expected over the weekend.

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