Masterful Garcia forges ahead with a superb 64

DEFENDING champion Sergio Garcia surged to the top of the leaderboard at the end of the second round of the rain-affected Valderrama Masters.

Garcia and Ashley Chesters were tied for first place after the first round on five under par, before Garcia hit a birdie at the 11th to overtake the Englishman.

The Spaniard went on to card a seven-under-par round of 64 while Chesters only managed one birdie and sits second four shots behind on six under par.

Scot Marc Warren joined Alvaro Quiros, Gregory Bourdy and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in joint third on four under par.

Warren, facing a fight to retain his tour card, said: ‘It’s been a long two rounds of golf with all the delays we’ve had but I’m really pleased with the position I’m in. Four under after two rounds is very pleasing.

‘It’s tricky when you come back out after a storm, the wind is changing direction so the shot you thought you had is different.’

Lee Westwood, whose son Sam carried his bag, ended up well placed on three under at the end of 36 holes.

The tournament, hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation has been badly affected by the weather and is now reduced to 54 holes from the original 72 — with the third round potentially taking place tomorrow if the weather is bad again today.