Marc Leishman cards a best-of-the-week 65 to grab a share of the Australian PGA Championship lead
Saturday 2 December 2017 18:05, UK
Marc Leishman hit a best-of-the-week 65 to grab a share of the lead on day two of the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.
An eagle on the 15th and seven birdies led to a seven-under-par round for the Australian, who dropped shots on the 12th and 18th, to join compatriot Adam Bland on 12 under par.
Bland made seven birdies and one bogey in a second successive round of 66.
"I was striking the ball well and thought I would be pretty aggressive all day, especially after birdieing the first couple of holes," Leishman said.
"When you're on a run like that and playing well, you sort of can afford to be aggressive. If you make a few mistakes, you feel like you can make some birdies."
Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who is looking to cap the best year of his career with a fourth victory of 2017, slid into joint 10th after a double bogey on the ninth and bogies on the 10th and 18th saw him finish with a one-under 71, leaving him on six-under overall.
The Spaniard had a blemish-free round on Thursday but found the going slightly tougher in the second round.
"I hit a couple of really nice putts but I was probably a little bit tired I think, physically and mentally," he said.
"Because of that, obviously my golf game wasn't as sharp as I would like it to be."
Golf
Garcia conceded he would have to shoot well on Saturday to be in with a chance of winning the title.
"If we don't have a great day tomorrow, then it's going to be tough because those guys are playing well and they're not going to back up much," he said.
Greg Chalmers carded a 66 to lie third on 10-under, with Cameron Smith (67), Jordan Zunic (69) and Rhein Gibson (67) completing an all-Australian top six on nine-under.
England's Nathan Kimsey is the best placed British player after a 67 left him tied for 19th at the halfway stage, but Australia's former Augusta winner Adam Scott missed the cut after a second-round 74.
Watch the Australian PGA Championship throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage continues with third round highlights on Saturday from 7.00am.
