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Garcia takes first day honours with 64

Spanish star Sergio Garcia, who has gone 16 months without a win, has stormed to the top of the leader board on day one of the $2 million Greg Norman Holden International at The Lakes in Sydney.

Teeing off early in still conditions which tournament host Norman described as “perfect”, Garcia carded a blemish free nine-under 64 on the par 73 course to lead Swede Pierre Fulke by a shot.

Norman also made a blistering start to his event with a seven-under par 66, including a five-under 32 through the back nine, giving him a share of third place with England’s Daren Lee, New Zealand’s Steve Alker and Welshman Philip Price.

Aaron Baddeley and Nathan Green were superb in the afternoon when gusting winds swept the course, both carding rounds of 67 for a share of seventh spot.

Baddeley’s playing partners had mixed rounds with Adam Scott putting himself in contention to finish minus three but Heineken Classic winner Michael Campbell is ten shots behind after a one-over round which included five bogeys and four birdies.

But Garcia, whose last victory was at the German Masters in October 1999, is the man to catch after recording his lowest ever tournament score.

The 21-year-old made the most of the conditions and used his putter to great effect holing a 25 foot putt at the eighth, a 20 footer at the fifth and two 15 footers at the 12th and 15th for birdies.

“It was a great round…I felt great. I went out, I started hitting the ball really good and started making some nice birdies at the beginning and it kept me going for the whole round.”

“I missed one fairway all day. I missed three greens. The last two I missed, I was just on the edge. It was a quite comfortable nine-under.”

“The only bad thing of the whole round was the 14th hole when I had a seven iron in my hands and I wasn’t able to make birdie.

“It’s something important to start with a round like this, to be up there and hopefully I’ll have a couple more good rounds and I will be on the top on Sunday.

A group of eight including Peter O’Malley are tied for ninth on five under while defending champion Lucas Parsons finished the day one over.

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