New Zealanders are handy in a crowded field at the top of the leaderboard with a possibility to lift the Brodie Breeze trophy late tomorrow.
Lttle known Kieran Muir is the leading New Zealander on 8-under, three behind leader Joohyung Kim, of South Korea, while one shot behind Muir are Harry Bateman and Michael Hendry.
Muir, from Tauranga, hit an eagle and two birdies in his last four holes at Millbrook to shoot up the leaderboard, recording a six under 65 yesterday.
A shot behind are Hendry and Bateman, tied with three Australians.
For Hendry, it is a chance to get back into the reckoning and repeat his win at Millbrook in 2017.
Hendry though is not getting ahead of himself although he feels he hit the ball well yesterday.
"I hit a lot of good shots and the bad shots I hit were in good places. It seems at the moment my bad shots aren’t that bad. They are either left side of the fairway, or right side of the fairway, left side of the green or right side of the green," he said.
"There’s plenty of guys that are playing pretty well out there. If the weather calms down, which it looks like it might do over the weekend, it does become a bit of a putting contest.
"If my putter gets hot, maybe I’ll be a chance, but I’ll worry about that closer to the 16th hole on Sunday."
Veteran David Smail chalked up a 3-under 68 at Millbrook yesterday and is the next best New Zealander at 5-under.
Smail, who won the Open in 2001, said he had learnt lately to play within himself and not try to take on the young guys.
He said the game had changed greatly since he first played in the New Zealand Open more than 30 years ago.
"There was hardly anyone around, the organisation was just New Zealand, really — just get out and play guys.
"It was quite relaxed. But now the prize money and all the amateurs here, it is really good."
Smail was not talking up his chances of repeating his 2001 triumph.
"I should be thinking I could but deep down I’m not 100% sure, which is not good in this game but you never know in this game."
He turned 50 this year and felt his game was on the improve. He was heading back to play in Japan and then may have a look at the seniors tour in United States if his game holds up.
Ryan Fox was up and down throughout his round and had no luck, playing in wind both days and missing the cut at 2-over.
Queenstown’s James Anstiss finished on 2-under to make it through. The cut was set to be at even-par.
