DUBAI — South Africa’s Richard Sterne managed to maintain his one-shot advantage on top of the leaderboard with a birdie on his final hole in the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic Friday.



Sterne, who was one shy of the 19-year-old course record at the Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club on Thursday with a 62, added a two-under par 70 round in decidedly tougher playing conditions to move to 12-under par 132 total at the halfway stage of the tournament.



That kept him one ahead of England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68), Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen (66) and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher (70), while Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer (68), Dane Andreas Harto (67) and Scotland’s Chris Doak (69) were tied for fifth at 10-under par 134. Spain’s world No.14 Sergio Garcia almost pulled out of the tournament after a few holes with a shoulder injury, but recovered well with on-course treatment and shot a five-under par 67 to be tied eighth at 135 alongside Frenchman Romain Wattel and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh (both 67).



Mickelson shoots 60

Phil Mickelson missed out on a 59 by a fraction of an inch Thursday in the first round of the Phoenix Open. Mickelson settled for an 11-under 60, matching the tournament record he already shared with Grant Waite and Mark Calcavecchia.



Mickelson had a four-stroke lead over Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Padraig Harrington and Ted Potter Jr. with half the players still on the course. Fowler and Dufner shot 68. — Agencies