Golf: Lee slips outside top 20

Danny Lee. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand No 1 Danny Lee has lost pace in the fight for his card on the PGA Tour, sitting in a tie for 20th at the halfway stage of the McGladrey Classic in Georgia.

Lee is currently projected to be 161st on the money list and needs to climb inside the top 125 players to keep his card for the 2013 season.

That ambition took a hit today at the Seaside Course when the 21-year-old shot an even par 72 to slip 14 places into a tie for 20th. The Rotorua professional, who was in a nine-way share of sixth place after round one, now sits five shots back from leader Arjun Atwal of India.

Lee has made 12 cuts from 24 events in 2012 to earn $411,000, but that may not be good enough to see him return to the tour next year.

Also Stateside, Auckland professional Ryan Fox missed out at the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying in Nevada.

The son of All Black great Grant Fox had rounds of 71, 72, 71 and 71 at the Dayton Valley Golf Club for a three under par total to miss out on the qualifying mark by two shots.

The 25-year-old, who has won three titles in his rookie year as a professional, needed to finish inside the top 19 to proceed to the second stage.

Meanwhile, Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson dropped from 15th to 49th at the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open in Florida on the web.com Tour.

Wilkinson, who is 54th on the web.com money list and needs to climb inside the top 25 to return to the PGA Tour, had a one over par 73 to fall out of contention.

Fellow Manawatu pro Grant Waite enjoyed his first made cut for the year, carding a three under par 67 to make the cutline by one shot. Steven Alker, who is Elsewhere, North Harbour professional Michael Hendry carded a one over par 73 in the second round of the Perth International to slip back to a share of fourth.

The 33-year-old, who carded a seven under par 65 in round one at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club, couldn't back up on day two in a round that included four bogeys and three birdies .

Hendry will begin round three of the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia co-sanctioned event five shots back from Argentine Emiliano Grillo.

The former Auckland cricketer began the season in fine style when he claimed the New Zealand PGA Pro-Am at The Hills but, by his own admission, has been quiet since on the OneAsia Tour.

Wellington professional Mark Brown carded a three under par 69 to be in a share of 13th place, while the other Kiwis in the field missed the cut.