BANGKOK: Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose played sparkling golf to move into the joint lead of the $1m Thailand Golf Championship after the second round at Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.
Garcia fired a sizzling seven-under par 65 which included a hole-in-one at the eighth, while Rose shot an accomplished 68 as the duo reached 11-under for the tournament.
Rose and Garcia are two strokes ahead of overnight leader Alex Cejka of Germany, France’s Alexander Levy and India’s Anirban Lahiri, who shot the day’s lowest score, a magnificent eight-under 64. A further stroke behind was America’s Rickie Fowler.
Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson improved on his opening round with a 67 to move into joint seventh place with a cluster of players including Thailand’s leading contender Kiradech Aphibarnrat and India’s Sujjan Singh.
“It was a wonderful day,” said a happy Garcia who in addition to his hole-in- one, sunk five birdies. “The hole-in-one was an extra bonus. It is always an exciting feeling,” said Garcia. It was his third ace in tournament play.
Garcia, who has his girlfriend on the bag, said he felt comfortable with his form. “I’ve been playing well both days,” he said. “But there are still two days to go.”
Rose said he was pleased with his score despite a rather shaky beginning. “It was a funny round,” he said. “I got off to a slow start,” which included a bogey at the third.
He added: “I had more trouble reading the greens today and was fortunate to make some big putts to save par.”
However after a birdie at the ninth his game really stepped up.
“That birdie really got me going,” Rose said.
And things soon got even better when he was rewarded with an eagle at the 11th.
“My approach was the best iron shot I have hit in months,” he said. “I’m looking forward to playing with Sergio in the third round.”
Overnight leader Cejka said he had played quite well but a double bogey at the 18th spoilt his day.
“That double was a real pity, otherwise it would have been a decent round,” he said. AFP
