Golf: Garcia stays ahead at Wachovia championship

TORONTO - Spain's Sergio Garcia carded a one-under-par 71 to take the second-round clubhouse lead at the Wachovia championship in Charlotte, North Carolina today, two strokes clear of world number two Vijay Singh.

Garcia, the first-round leader, mixed three birdies with a pair of bogeys at the Quail Hollow Golf Club to move to seven-under 137 through 36 holes and maintain his two-shot advantage.

Singh made a flawless start to go to four under through 12 holes but the smooth-swinging Fijian stumbled slightly over the closing stretch, mixing a pair of bogeys with a birdie for a three-under 69.

American Patrick Sheehan was one-under through four holes to join Singh at five-under for the tournament.

Scott Verplank was also among the early finishers, firing a three-under 69 to move to four under alongside Sweden's Richard S. Johnson, American Kenny Perry and defending champion Joey Sindelar.

World number one Tigers Woods, back in action for the first time since winning the US Masters, battled through another rollercoaster round as he mixed five birdies with five bogeys to leave him level par on the day and just five shots off the lead at two-under 142.

Phil Mickelson, also playing for the first time since Augusta, has yet to find his best form, carding a one-over 73 to sit seven shots adrift back on 144.

- REUTERS