Golf: Paddison climbs to fifth in China

Gareth Paddison. Photo / Khalid Redza

Wellington professional Gareth Paddison has shot consecutive 68s at the China Open on the European Tour to climb to a share of fifth at the halfway stage at the Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin.

Paddison, who represented New Zealand at the World Cup of Golf last year, made six birdies and two bogeys as he closed within three shots of the leaders Gary Boyd (England) and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (France) on an 11 under par total.

The left hander, who has played previously on the European Tour, qualified for the event with his status on the OneAsia Tour as this event is co-sanctioned.

Paddison has shown good form already in 2012 when he won the Victorian PGA Championship by one shot on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

North Harbour professional Michael Hendry, who is playing in his first event since winning the New Zealand PGA Pro-Am at The Hills, carded rounds of 70 and 73 to miss the cut by one shot. He finished in a share of 71st place after an eventful second round that included four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Michael Long, currently tied second on the OneAsia Order of Merit, also missed the weekend after shooting 74 and 73.

Meanwhile, on the Japan Golf Tour, Richard Lee has dropped to a share of 41st place after a one over par 72 in the second round of the Tsuruya Open.

Lee, who finished tied 26th last week at the Token Homemate Cup, is now on a two under par total seven shots back from leader Ryuichi Oda of Japan.

David Smail, a five time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, has carded rounds of 69 and 70 for a three under par total. The Hamilton professional made two birdies in his final three holes to get to within six shots of Oda.