The New Zealand golfer Danny Lee has carded an impressive three under par second round to rise to a tie for 19th at the latest PGA tour event in North Carolina.
Danny Lee at the Houston Open, 2015 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Lee hit two bogies, three birdies and an eagle at Quail Hollow to reach the the tournament's midway stage at four under par, six strokes off the lead.
His compatriot Steven Alker backed up his first round three under par 69 with a 72 on day two to fall from 19th into 32nd.
The other New Zealander in the field, Tim Wilkinson, has missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 76.
The local favourite Webb Simpson chipped in twice on his way to a share of the lead with fellow American Robert Streb.
Simpson, who lives adjacent to the club's seventh hole, used his extensive course knowledge to card a five-under-par 67 and join first-round leader Streb (69) at 10-under 134.
They were two shots clear of their nearest rivals while the two most celebrated players in the field, Rory McIlroy (67) and Phil Mickelson (66), vaulted into contention just three strokes off the pace.
Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, chipped in from 55 feet at the par-four ninth, and provided an even more impressive encore from 65 feet at the par-three 17th.
