Golf: Lee backs up in China

Danny Lee of New Zealand in action during day two of the Volvo China Open. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee is two shots off the lead midway through the second round of the China Open in Chengdu today.

Lee backed up his opening round 66 with a four-under par 68 today and currently shares eighth place, two shots behind a group of four players - Denmark's Jeppe Huldahl, Frenchman Gregory Havret, Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts and South African Keith Horne, the overnight leader - at 12-under par.

The quartet have all finished their second rounds, as have the group of three players at 11-under.

Lee was at one stage in a tie for the lead as he got to 11-under with a birdie at the par three 12th, but a bogey on the par five 6th, the hole he eagled yesterday, saw him drop back to eighth with about half the field yet to complete their second rounds in the European Tour event at the Luxehills International Country Club.

Fellow New Zealanders Steve Alker and Michael Campbell have made solid starts to their rounds today, both three-under par through 12 holes.

Alker is tied for 14th at nine-under and Campbell shares 23rd a further shot back.

Michael Hendry (three-under through eight holes) and Michael Long (two under through 12) will need to go low on the back nine to make the cut, which is projected at five-under, while Gareth Paddison is one-over and Mark Brown three-over, both though seven holes.

- NZPA