Golf: Five-under round in Brisbane puts Lee just a stroke behind leader

BRISBANE - New Zealand golfer Richard Lee shot a five-under 67 yesterday to be tied for second, one shot off the pace, at the halfway stage of the $A1 million ($1.25 million) Australian PGA championship in Brisbane.

Defending champion Robert Allenby retained the lead with a 69 to be 10 under after 36 holes.

Allenby had a frustrating day with his putter at the Royal Queensland course, though he managed to sink a 36ft eagle putt on the 17th to put himself two shots clear.

However, his lead halved when he followed up with his first bogey.

Lee reeled off four birdies in his first nine holes, before mixing two bogeys and three birdies on the journey home.

The Aucklander came off the course equal clubhouse leader, tied with Australian Craig Parry, who carded the day's best score of 65.

Lee will go into today's third round in the same position as he was in the final Australasian PGA Tour event last season - when he was one shot behind halfway leader Aaron Baddeley in the ANZ Championship in late February. In the leading group and in the glare of the cameras at Sydney's Concord course, he shot a disappointing four-over 75.

However, he came back in the final round to produce a 68 to finish tied for 13th.

Lee said last night that he could take some positives out of that experience, notably his confidence in his ability to stay composed.

After a good finish to last season, Lee admitted the off-season wait was frustrating.

"It's pretty tough, with the Kiwi dollar," he said. "When you haven't got that much money, it's hard to get over to play the European events or the American events."

His highlight of the past few months was winning the Vanuatu Open in mid-year, a victory that earned him $A8000.

Wellington left-hander Gareth Paddison added a steady 70 to his first-round 68 to be six under and in a tie for ninth.

- NZPA