Garcia and Stenson in hunt for Munich title

Major champions Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson will head into the weekend just a shot off the lead at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Garcia is making his first appearance in Europe since his maiden Major triumph at the Masters in April while Stenson is seeking to defend the title he won by three shots in Cologne last season.

The Ryder Cup duo got to eight under in windy conditions yesterday but that was not good enough to keep pace with Frenchman Joel Stalter and Swede Joakim Lagergren, who led the way after two rounds.

Lagergren had set the target in the morning with an impressive 66 and rookie Stalter was the only one of the later starters who could catch him as he posted a 68.

Garcia had held a share of the lead at the turn after a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh but dropped shots on the 14th and 17th stalled his momentum before he carded a closing birdie in a round of 70.

Stenson went one better with a 69 that contained birdies on the 11th, 18th, first and eighth and a single blemish on the 13th.

England’s Richard Bland was also at eight under after a 69 alongside Belgian Thomas Detry and Swede Rikard Karlberg.

Matthew Southgate was then in the group at seven under, a shot clear of in-form fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood.

Top Scot is Paul Lawrie who carded a five-under 67 to lie five shots off the lead. Also making the cut is Scott Henry who is two shots further back.

However, heading home are five Scots – Scott Henry, David Drysdale, Scott Jamieson, Duncan Stewart and Marc Warren, who finished last after firing a 13-over par round of 85 yesterday.