Bookend rounds of 64 have seen Cameron Smith replicate his T5 finish from the 2014 CIMB Classic in Malaysia, the tournament that launched his PGA TOUR career.

Smith opened this year’s event with a blistering 8-under 64 to hold the outright lead in what turned out to be a low scoring event won by American Pat Perez.

The Queenslander blitzed the front-9 on day one with five birdies and added three more on the inward half in a bogey free performance that matched his best score to par since joining the TOUR.

Despite the hot start, however, Smith struggled on day two after a near four-hour rain delay which he later admitted had thrown him out of his rhythm.

Smith had completed just two holes when play was suspended and didn’t appear to be affected when play resumed as he made two birdies on his way to the turn to remain in the mix.

A third birdie of the day at his 10th hole, the first, saw him get back a share of the lead but a bogey-birdie run at the second and third had him treading water before a disastrous double bogey at the 7th.

The eventual 1-under 71 saw him fall four shots off the pace with 36 holes remaining, a deficit that proved too much to overcome by Sunday night.

One of four Australasians in the field, Smith was leading the charge through two rounds but was overtaken by New Zealand’s Danny Lee on day three when the Kiwi added a 68 to opening rounds of 73 and 65.

Two double bogeys and a triple bogey spoiled what could have been a brilliant first round for Lee, eight birdies on the day wasted with the dropped shots.

In stark contrast to Smith, however, Lee fired in the second round with seven birdies and an eagle and while two bogeys were disappointing, the 7-under effort moved him well up the standings.

Closing with back to back rounds of 68 was enough to see Lee to T7 though Cameron still claimed top honours after adding scores of 73-64 at the weekend to be T5.

Rod Pampling and Scott Hend both found the going tough in Malaysia, neither managing to break 70 over the four days.

Pampling was 5-over and T69 with rounds of 72-72-77-73 while Hend was one stroke further back after scores of 77-73-70-74.