Golfing sensation Min Woo Lee has surged into a three shot lead at the Australian Open.
Last weekend’s Australian PGA Championship winner shot a second round 64 to be 12 under at the halfway point in Syndey.
Lee hit six birdies, a bogey and an incredible eagle on the 18th, following a sensational second shot, during his standout round on the Australian Golf Club course.
Overnight leader Cam Davis dropped three shots in his second round to fall back to six under and be in a tie for 16th.
Taranaki golfer Sam Jones, who only turned professional last month, was in form on Friday with a second round 67, also on The Australian course, to be seven under in a 10-way tie for seventh.
Jones, who started the day at three under par, was even through the front nine with three birdies and three bogeys before picking up four shots in the second half of his round via five pars and four birdies.
Jones is just two shots behind Scot Connor Syme and American Patrick Rodgers who share second at nine under.
Chilean Joaquín Niemann, Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) and Australian Sam Brazel are tied for fourth at eight under.
Next best of the Kiwis is Kit Bittle at four under after a second round 71 and it’s shaping up as he and Jones being the only New Zealand players to make the cut.
Kiwi amateur Zack Swanwick, who started the day five under, endured a trying second round. He began on the back nine and dropped three shots before recording double bogeys on the first and second and eventually finished at two over after shooting 78.
British Open winner Cameron Smith, who started the second round at one under, has safely made the cut at four under after a second round 68.
Former world No.1 Jiyai Shin has taken the lead in the women’s Australian Open thanks to a second round 68.
Shin, nine under, leads South African Ashleigh Buhai (seven under) and South Korean Jenny Shin (six under).
Overnight leader, 16-year-old Australian amateur Rachel Lee started the day at six under but has finished at one over.
She dropped six shots in her final four holes thanks to two bogeys and two doubles to be in a seven way tie for 19th.