Luiten leads Euro Tour stop in Malaysia

JOHOR, Malaysia, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Joost Luiten had a bogey-free 8-under-par 63 and leads the European Tour's Iskander Johor Open after Thursday's play in Malaysia.

Luiten got his round in before heavy storms hit and play was suspended Thursday with about half the field still on the course. They will complete their first rounds Friday before the second round commences.

Luiten had four consecutive birdies in one stretch in taking the lead. Defending champion Padraig Harington, who had an eagle, six birdies and a bogey, is tied for second at 7-under 64 with Gregory Bourdy and Marcus Fraser, neither of whom had a bogey Thursday.

Five golfers, including Daniel Chopra and Zaw Moe, who are among those yet to finish the first round, are at 5-under.

Luiten opened at the 10th hole of the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club and was 1-under after five holes. But he ran off four consecutive birdies over Nos. 15-18 in closing out his first nine at 5-under.

He added front-side birdies at 2, 6 and 9 for his 63.

This is the first year the Johor Open, which had been solely on the Asian Tour, is part of the European Tour. The European Tour also had the Alfred Dunhill Championships in South Africa this week.