Golf: Kiwi duo in touch in North Carolina

Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfers Tim Wilkinson and Josh Geary are within striking distance of the lead after the second round at the latest Nationwide Tour event in North Carolina.

Manawatu left-hander Wilkinson shot a three-under par 68 at The Rex Hospital Open to lie in a share of 15th, five shots off the lead set by American Scott Brown.

Brown's scorching second round of 63 gave him a halfway total of 132, while Wilkinson followed his opening round of 69 with a bogey-free round.

Geary, who opened with an even par 71, holed six birdies but bogeys at the second and 17th holes on the TPC Wakefield Plantation course left him with a 67 to lie a shot behind Wilkinson in a share of 26th.

Waikato's Steven Alker missed the cut by one shot after a two-over par second round and Brad Iles' second successive round of 74 meant he too would miss the weekend.

- NZPA