New Zealand amateur golfer Danny Lee continued to excel in the company of professionals at the Australian Masters near Melbourne today.
The 18-year-old shot a second round of three-under-par 69 to comfortably make the cut at the 6383m Huntingdale Golf Club.
The reigning US Amateur champion was easilythe best placed of the 11-strong New Zealand contingent, ending the day in a share of 11th place on 140.
He was three strokes behind the clubhouse leader, South African Tim Clark, who posted 70 today to sit at seven-under 137, one ahead of Australians Michael Sim and Anthony Summers.
Lee opened his account with a 71 in blustery conditions yesterday and improved further today despite dropping a shot at the par-four fourth hole.
He completed the remainder of the round without a blemish, picking up strokes with birdies at the eighth, 10th, 13th and 16th holes
Steve Alker and Michael Long were the next best New Zealanders on 143 after shooting 68 and 71 respectively.
Alker's four-under effort saw him jump from 77th equal to a tie for 31st, while United States-based left-hander Tim Wilkinson was ultra consistent in posting his second successive 72.
Mahal Pearce flirted with the cut line of two-over 146 before squeaking in with one shot to spare when a birdie at his 17th hole enabled him to sign for a 70 and a tournament card of 145.
New Zealanders to miss the cut were Gareth Paddison, Mark Purser, Josh Geary, Doug Holloway, Mathew Holten and Richard Lee.
