Nedbank challenge: Sergio Garcia leads Louis Oosthuizen with one in Sun City

Louis Oosthuizen posted an eagle and five birdies in his second round Nedbank Challenge – second round leaderboard-9 S Garcia (Spa); -8 L Oosthuizen (SA); -6 M Korhones (Fin); -4 D Frittelli (SA), A Rai, Westwood, S Lowry Other: -3 M Wallace; -2 A Johnston (Eng), M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -1 R McIlroy (NI), Fisher (Eng), A Sullivan

South African Louis Oosthuizen produced a strong nine deficit to award a five-under-pager 67 and coach Sergio Garcia one round after round two of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.

Garcia, 38, shot a first round 64 but found it more difficult on Friday when he placed a 71 to reach nine below par to the Gary Player Country Club.

Garcia sees a second victory in a row after winning the Valderrama Masters.

Rory McIlroy has fired a 71 and is tied for the 19th place on a game under

Oosthuizen is looking for a first victory at a tournament he longed for, with the Finnish Mikko Korhonen (70 ) three shots back in the third position.

Oosthuizen seemed to be struggling after a double bogey on the eighth saw that he was on one undersize for the round.

But an eagle on the 10th and birdies on 14 and 15 raised the 2010 Open champion higher than the lea derboard on a difficult day to score with a swirling breeze.

"I am quite satisfied with the round", Oosthuizen told reporters.

"After eight I had a good run on a few holes, I feel like I'm playing, I'm just trying to hit the fairways and the irons feel pretty good.

" Je the wind must play the way you feel it because it is so inconsistent. golf course you need to be patient. "

Sergio Garcia is twice the winner of the Nedbank Challenge

At one point, Garcia led five shots when he opened his round with birdies on the first two holes, but four bogeys, including the 18th, spoiled his day and allowed others to close around him.

Garcia is aiming for a third victory in Sun City after previous triumphs in 2001 and 2003.

Ross Fisher (72) looked like he would be one of those before he shot an amazing eight shots fall on his last four holes.

Fisher had slipped the second and picked up six more birdies to reduce Garcia's lead to two shots.

But after driving into the trees on the 15th, the Englishman took six shots to reach the green and then three-putted for a nine. He also bogeyed the last three holes.

He certainly was not the only player to struggle on the 15th although as 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (78) needed nine shots to complete the gap.

Rory McIlroy carded four birdies and three bogeys in his second round

World number six McIlroy saw his vague hope to overhaul Francesco Molinari to make the race to Dubai fade.

Eighth placed McIlroy is almost £ 1.75 m behind Molinari and must win at least one of the remaining two events to overhaul the Italian, who has a lead of just under £ 1m from Ryder Cup partner and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood.

"I did not give myself good positions on the tee to give me chances with irons and get close enough to watch birdies," McIlroy said.

"I have to clean up the game from the tee, if you do, give yourself a chance."