Ireland's Gary Murphy enjoyed an excellent start to his Maybank Malaysian Open campaign this morning, carding a six-under-par 66 to lie just two shots off the pace before play was suspended due to bad light.

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez led by one stroke after the rain-affected first day. The Spaniard was eight under par through 17 holes when poor light forced the players off the course. Jimenez was among 75 players, or half the field, affected by a violent thunderstorm that halted play for nearly three hours in mid-afternoon.

Thailand’s 2005 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant earlier fired a course record equalling seven-under-par 65 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club with Murphy, Richard Finch, Garry Houston and  Francesco Molinari hot on his heels.

Murphy had been level with Wiratchant with four to play, but a bogey at the par five sixth (his 15th) dropped him back into a share of second place.

Padraig Harrington, twice a runner-up in the event, reached the turn in three under after starting on the back nine but could not add to that tally as he parred every hole coming home. Afterwards, the world number 19 was reasonably satisfied with his opening round.

"I said before the start that I'd sacrifice not having a quick start for not having a slow start, so 69 is fine," said the Dubiner. "I'd like to have holed a few putts on the back nine, though. I hit it close enough all the way through the last nine holes and had nine reasonable birdie efforts, but didn't hole any of them.

"It could easily have been six-under, no problem. My eye isn't quite in and I'm not quite confident with my reading of putts. I'm over-borrowing with my left-to-right putts, but hopefully that will be alright tomorrow. I'm not going to complain as shooting 69 is never a problem. I'd have settled for that before going out."

Stephen Dodd, of Wales, carded a 67 and could have been even further up the leaderboard but for bogeying two of his final four holes. Compatriot Garry Houston is also on five under with three holes to play after picking up four birdies on the trot just after the turn.

They share fifth place with 21-year-old Thai Prom Meesawat, who played his rookie year on the Asian Tour in 2004.