Geary among Australian Open leaders

Kiwi golfer Josh Geary posted his second sub-70 round in as many days to be right in contention, tied for third at the halfway point of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

For a time Geary was clubhouse leader on five-under after rounds of 68 and 69 at the Open, played at the Victoria and Kingston Heath clubs yesterday.

But Adam Scott had a flawless sevenunder par round to eventually share the 36-hole lead with fellow Australian David Micheluzzi, at eight-under, three shots ahead of Geary, American Gunner Wiebe and Australian Haydn Barron.

Delighting the big gallery, Scott drained a long-range putt from off the green for eagle on his final hole.

Playing Victoria for his second round, Geary had two bogeys and a birdie before he eagled the par-five 18th to sign for a oneunder 69. He shot a four-under 68 at the par72 Kingston Heath on Thursday.

World No 27 Ryan Fox, meanwhile, ensured he wouldn’t miss a second successive cut in Australia with a second round of four-under 68 at Kingston Heath.

Fox had six birdies and two bogeys in his second round to be one-under for the tournament, after he opened with a three-over 73.

Having missed the cut at the Australian PGA a week ago, Fox was safely through to the weekend in a tie for 22nd, alongside compatriot Luke Toomey, seven shots off the pace.

There was good news too for world No 3 and Australian PGA Championship winner Cameron Smith, who was two-over and looking likely to miss out on the weekend.

Smith had five bogeys and four birdies in his second round of one-over 73 at Kingston Heath, but finished just inside the cut of three-over.