Tournament host Sergio Garcia conjured up a touch of magic on the 18th hole at his home course on Friday for a closing birdie and a share of the lead with Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen and Richard Finch of Britain. The Spanish world number five drove behind the trees at the last but produced a lofted approach to just two feet for a round of six-under 65 and a halfway 11-under 131 total. By contrast Finch (66) and overnight leader Kjeldsen (67) bogeyed the final hole after Garcia's wonder shot to leave the trio two strokes clear. Despite their closing mishaps, Finch, who this time last year was desperately trying to retain his Tour card, and Kjeldsen may spoil Garcia's weekend while the five players tied on nine-under in fourth place have reasons for strong finishes. Spaniard Alvaro Quiros (66) is gunning for successive titles after winning last week in Portugal. Britain's Simon Dyson (67) and David Lynn (66) and Swede Peter Hedblom (65) are jockeying for starts in next week's Volvo Masters. Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (67) sits 119th on the European money list, just one place away from ensuring his playing card for 2009. Diaz takes 3-stroke lead In Kaikou, China, American Laura Diaz shot a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the 54-hole Grand China Air, the LPGA's first tournament in China. Her round matched the best of her career and was capped with a 3-foot birdie putt on the 18th. Diaz finished third last week in the Kapalua Classic in Hawaii and is bidding for her first tournament victory since 2002. South Korean Seon-hwa Lee was three shots back after shooting a 66. Two players were four shots off the pace after rounds of 67 - Karen Stupples and H.J. Choi, while Louise Friberg and Ji-young Oh were five strokes behind after rounds of 68. Taoli Yang had a 69, the best score of the day for a Chinese player. A four-time Solheim Cup player, Diaz mastered the tough grain on the greens at the West Coast Golf Club, rolling in 10 birdies and dropping only one shot. Many of the top names in the tournament had mediocre rounds. No. 2-ranked Annika Sorenstam, No. 3 Yani Tseng and No. 4 Suzann Pettersen all shot even-par 72. Morgan Pressel, who won the Kapalua Classic last week in Hawaii, finished with a 75.
