SERGIO Garcia has carded a level-par round of 71 to maintain a two-shot lead in The Open Championship.

The Spaniard remains at his overnight total of six-under-par following a gritty second-round display at Carnoustie.

Garcia birdied both of the course's par fives, but two dropped shots at the fourth and 11th prevented him from moving further clear of the pack.

With Irishman Paul McGinley yet to start his second round, Garcia's fellow Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jiminez, is his closest rival in the clubhouse.

Jiminez shot a 70 to move to three-under-par, a score he shares with Americans Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink, and Austrian Markus Brier.

North-Easterner Graeme Storm continues to struggle, with two sevens in the opening ten holes hampering his attempts to repair the damage inflicted by yesterday's 78.

Storm is currently 12-over-par with five holes of his second round to play.

** READ TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO FOR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE SECOND ROUND AT CARNOUSTIE **