SUN CITY, South Africa, 29 November 2003 — American Kenny Perry carded a four-under-par 68 to take the halfway lead and set himself up for the $1.2 million first prize at the Sun City Golf Challenge yesterday.
The 43-year-old, on 11-under-par 133 overall, withstood the charge of Spain’s Sergio Garcia who fired a six-under 66 to move to within a shot at the Gary Player Country Club.
Garcia, Perry’s junior by 19 years and who has made significant swing changes this season, hit massive drives and was much more precise with his iron play on his way to five birdies and an eagle.
He birdied the par-five second, but lost a shot next hole after pulling his drive left. He had to take a drop from an unplayable lie and although he hit his six-iron approach to 15-feet, he missed the putt.
Temperatures sizzled into the mid-thirties and Garcia’s golf matched it.
After a birdie at the par-three seventh, which by his own admission was a result of a lucky bounce, he eagled the par-five 10th.
The 550-yard hole was reduced to a par-four as the 2001 champion hit a driver and a six-iron to 16-feet.
“I’m definitely feeling more comfortable with the swing changes,” Garcia said. “Coming back to a course where I have won before helps the confidence and makes it easier, there are less doubts in your mind. I would say out of a score of 10, I’m at eight with my swing.”
American Jerry Kelly joined Garcia on 10-under after a round of 67 with a further four players on seven-under 67, including overnight leader Vijay Singh.
Perry could have gone even lower.
“I left a few putts out there,” he said. “The greens were definitely firming up and the pin positions were tough.
“You could see that by the scoring because nobody really ran away with it. I’m guessing that 18-under par might be a good score to win, but it could go as low as 20-under.”
South Africa’s Ernie Els, the defending champion and European Order of Merit winner, endured his worst day in eight years at Sun City when he returned a disappointing three-over par 75. It was the first time since 1995 that the world number three has shot an over-par round at the club. Els was 14 shots off the lead.
