Australian golfers Matthew Griffin and Deyen Lawson have charged into a share of the lead at the halfway point of the New Zealand Open after blistering rounds.
The Victorian pair joined Japan's Hideto Tanihara at the top of the leaderboard on eight-under-par, two strokes clear of fourth-placed Steven Alker, the leading New Zealander.
Another shot back is Japan's Shunsuke Sonoda and four other Australians - Matthew Guyatt, Aron Price, Matthew Millar and James Nitties.
Griffin and Tanihara both benefited from superior conditions early in the second round. Tanihara carded a five-under 66 at Millbrook while Griffin managed a seven-under 65 at The Hills course.
The winds increased later but it didn't prevent a storming finish from Lawson, who rattled in successive birdies on his last three holes at The Hills to join the leaders.
Tanihara, an 11-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, is seeking to become the first Japanese winner of the tournament.
Griffin is playing his seventh successive New Zealand Open and is a regular in New Zealand. One memorable win was over current Kiwi PGA Tour player Danny Lee in 2008 at a trans-Tasman amateur event.
Overnight leader Steven Jones of Victoria had a day to forget, stung on the hand by a bee early in his round before battling with a five-over 76 to plummet 39 places and survive the cut by two shots.
Among the more-notable players to miss the cut is Australian Brad Kennedy, the Queenslander who won last week's New Zealand PGA Championship in Auckland.
The final two rounds will both be played at The Hills.
