Robert Gates lines up a putt on the 17th green on day 2 of the NZ Golf Open at the Hills. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Gates leads the tournament on 11-under-par, two strokes clear of Australian Andrew Dodt.
The pair shared the overnight lead (7-under) with New Zealand's David Smail, who tees off at 12.40pm.
Gates picked up three shots in his first nine holes, the back nine at The Hills, and has also birdied the 1st hole.
Dodt, playing a hole behind, started with three birdies in eight holes but then bogied the 18th.
In joint third are Darron Stiles (USA) and Jon Mills (Canada) on 8-under.
Martin Piller, second at the Open last year, is having the round of the day. He is 5-under through 14 holes and has moved into a share of sixth.
New Zealand's Brad Iles is also looking good, playing through 15 holes in 4-under to be six shots off the pace.
It is another scorching day in Arrowtown and the crowd at The Hills is building up.
