KUALA LUMPUR — World No. 20 Sergio Garcia of Spain charged up the leaderboard to hold the second-round lead at nine-under through 12 holes at the weather-interrupted $2 million Iskandar Johor Open Friday. Almost three hours of play was lost to bad weather and play was suspended as darkness began falling, leaving 117 players to return at 7.30 a.m. Saturday to resume their round. Opening round leader David Lipsky of the US, who has yet to start his second round, shared the lead with Garcia after signing for a 63 in the morning. Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand is six-under through 13 holes. He is among the five players who are three shots behind Garcia and Lipsky at the event, which ends the Asian Tour season. Schwartzel and Bourdy in front In South Africa, South Africa's Charl Schwartzel surged into a share of the lead on day two at the Alfred Dunhill Championship Friday with an 8-under 64 to move to 13 under par. The former US Masters champion had six birdies and an eagle to go level with overnight leader Gregory Bourdy at the halfway stage. Frenchman Bourdy had a seven-under 65 for a two-round total of 131. The pair lead by four shots from South African Darren Fichardt (68) heading to the weekend at Leopard Creek Country Club. Another South African, Louis de Jager, and Englishman Steve Webster are another stroke back on 8 under. Europe seizes control Holder Europe raced into an early lead on the opening day of the Royal Trophy Friday with Jose Maria Olazabal's side winning three of Friday's four foursome matches against Asia. It could have been a 4-0 whitewash but playing captain Olazabal hooked his tee shot on the 18th out of bounds and he and Spanish partner Miguel Angel Jimenez conceded the hole to finish all square with South Korean duo Kim Kyung-tae and Yang Yong-eun. While Olazabal was disappointed by his final hole drive, he was happy with the efforts of his seven teammates in the alternate shot format as they took a commanding 3 1/2-1/2 lead in the annual contest loosely based on the Ryder Cup model. Olazabal will be confident his side can retain the title needing only four-and-a-half more points from Saturday's four fourball matches and Sunday's eight singles. Popovic retains share of lead Daniel Popovic's aversion to the 15th hole at the Palmer Coolum Resort continued Friday but the tour rookie played well enough around to retain a share of the Australian PGA Championship lead after the second round. The overnight leader followed up his opening round 64 with a two-under 70 to join China's Zhang Xin Jun at the top of the leaderboard on 10-under 134. The 26-year-old Australian dropped two shots at the par-five 15th, the same hole where he had his sole bogey a day earlier. Former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (69) and Matthew Griffin (67) were tied for third, two strokes behind the leaders, while fellow Australians Matt Goggin (66), Steven Bowditch (67) and Brad Kennedy shared fifth spot, a further shot back. — Agencies
