Thai teenager Chinarat Phadungsil stole the limelight at the storm-interrupted Maybank Malaysian Open by taking a two-stroke lead with a five-under-par 67 today.

His performance put him on course to make history as victory this weekend would see him become the youngest ever winner on the European Tour.

At 18 years and 103 days on Sunday, he would surpass the long-standing record of Dale Hayes, who won the Spanish Open in 1971 at the age of 18 years and 290 days.

It would make for a rare double for the youngster, as he is already the youngest ever winner on the Asian Tour following his success in the 2005 Double A International Open in Bangkok.

With half of the field yet to finish their second round at the Saujana Golf and Country Club due to a thunderstorm, it may be too early yet for Phadungsil to start thinking of the £110,000 winner's cheque.

But, he showed the mettle of a veteran as he carded seven birdies, including a 20-footer at the fourth, to move two clear of Englishmen Simon Dyson and Marcus Higley and Finland's Marko Ilonen.

With 77 players yet to finish their round, the projected cut is likely to be two over par.

Darren Clarke is right on the projected cut mark after a double bogey at his final hole dropped him to two over.

Damien McGrane is the best placed Irishman in the field on one under-par. Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Graeme McDowell are all six over and will miss the cut.

All five Irishmen have completed their second rounds.

Lee Westwood will have to sweat it out tomorrow morning as he was two over with two holes to play.

Two-time winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand could miss out though after dropping to four over with four to play.