Hole-in-one bonus for Garcia

Former world No 2 Sergio Garcia of Spain fired a superb hole in one to take a joint two-stroke lead with US Open champion Justin Rose after the halfway stage of the 

US$1-million Thailand Golf Championships at Amata Spring Country Club yesterday.

In a flawless performance, Garcia emerged leader for the first time in three attempts here after he fired a 65 for a two-day total of 11-under-par 133. Thanks to an ace on the 236-yard hole eight. Garcia has fired a total of 10 hole-in-one shots, three in tournaments.

“Yeah, wonderful day for sure. The hole-in-one obviously was a little bit of an extra bonus and it wasn’t like Rickie’s [Rickie Fowler] shot that was straight at it. But I was able to get lucky with the contours on the green and the ball was able to roll into the hole, which you know, making a hole-in-one, always is a funny and amazing feeling. You obviously have to get very lucky to be able to do it,” said the eight-time PGA Tour winner, who was caddied by his latest crush Katharina Bohem, a recent graduate from Charleston University.

“It was something she wanted to do since we started dating. She told me that she would love to caddie for me in a tournament and I thought that this was probably the nicest one to do it, a little bit more relaxed, end of the year, so she wouldn’t have as much pressure on her to do everything. But I think she’s been enjoying it. She’s been learning quite a bit and I think it’s been a good experience for both of us,” added the Spaniard, who was later joined at the top of the clubhouse by Rose who highlighted his round of 68 with an eagle on the 11th hole. 

“It was a funny round, I got off to a bit of a slow start and it all started to happen for me in the middle of the round. Had a bit of a hot spell from nine, 10, 11 and 12. Other than that, I found the greens more difficult this afternoon, a bit more grainy, more than yesterday. That was an adjustment I had to do today. Hit a good bunker shot to set up the birdie on the second and definitely saw some results from my practice yesterday,” said the first time visitor to Thailand.

Overnight leader Alex Cejka of Germany, with a double bogey on the 18th, hit a 71 for a total nine-under-par 135, which placed him at joint third with Indian Anirban Lahiri and Frenchman Alexander Levy. 

Birthday boy Rickie Fowler, who turned 25 yesterday, hit seven birdies including four successive ones from the second to fifth holes against a lone bogey to finish with a 66 and a total eight-under-par 136. 

“I finally got a few things going, felt a little better today and hit some better putts. So just stayed patient and made the turn and started to kind of rattle off some birdies so it was nice to finish off strong and get a good round in today,” added the 2010 PGA Rookie of the Year who was at lone sixth. 

A stroke behind was Thai hope Kiradech Aphibarnrat who hit a 68 to share seventh place with the in-form Swede Henrik Stenson, 67, Indian Sujjan Singh, and Andrew Dodt of Australia, all with 137s.

“Actually I was playing well for two days in a row. Four points behind the leaders is not a big gap. I still have the chance to catch up with them,” said Kiradech, a strong contender for the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Arnond Vongvanij, who was at joint second on Thursday, suffered a finishing double bogey that led him to a disappointing 74 and a total 139. He shared the 11th place with countryman Panuphol Pittayarat, Masahiro Kawamura of Japan, and Gaganjeet Bhullar of India.

Bubba Watson sank a back-to-back 70 to take the 15th place with Australian Scott Barr and Jaakrko Makitalo of Finland. Last year’s winner Charl Schwartzel stumbled to a 73 with a total 141, while Thongchai Jaidee, Prom Meesawat, Chinnarat Phadungsil and Japanese favourite Ryo Ishikawa all hit 142s.