Garcia takes narrow halfway lead

Sergio Garcia fired a 4-under-par 68 to hit the front on 9-under-par at the halfway stage at the Spanish Open in Gran Canaria,

The Spanish ace ended the second day on 135, one better than Greg Owen and Emanuele Canonica, while US Open champion Retief Goosen struggled again and was right on the cut line at 2-over-par.

While others struggled in a tough wind, Garcia prospered to follow up his 5-under-par 67 on the opening day, which had left him one off the lead, held by Hansen and David Gilford.

Joint overnight leader Gilford, who played the back nine first, began his second round with an horrendous six, six, five - bogey, double bogey, bogey -and then hit a triple bogey seven at the par-four 15th to drop seven shots in his first six holes.

Garcia, who also played the back nine first, began his second round inauspiciously when he dropped his first shot of the championship at the 12th hole.

But he hit back with two birdies before the turn and more at the first, second and sixth to put him clear at the top.

Goosen struggled for the second day in succession, finishing with another 73 to be 11 shots off the pace.

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