Hedblom leads Malaysian Open

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 8 (UPI) -- Defending champion Peter Hedblom used a 7-under-par 65 Saturday to put himself in position to capture his second straight Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

The Swede began his day with birdies on the first and third holes, then birdied 11-13, 17 and 18 to assume a two-stroke-lead after 54 holes.

"Hopefully I can continue to play like I did today and putt like I did, then it will be a really good defense on Sunday," he said.

Hedblom's 54-hole total is 17-under 199.

Last year, he won this European Tour event by one stroke over France's Jean-Francois Lucquin and has held at least a share of the 54-hole lead two others times.

Argentina's Daniel Vancsik (64) is alone in second at 15-under 201.

A group of three -- England's Simon Dyson (67), Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen (69) and Jyoti Randhawa (70) of India all share third place heading into Sunday's closing round at 14-under 202.