New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier's title defence at the British Masters is still alive after surviving to play the weekend.
Hillier made the cut at his third straight tournament on the DP World Tour on Friday (Saturday NZ Time), on the cut-line at one-over, after a two-over 74 in the second round at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England.
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Following on from his one-under 71 in the opening round on Thursday (Friday NZT), Hillier made four birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey on day two as he dropped into a share of 65th, 11 strokes off the lead.
Starting from the 10th hole, the 27-year-old had a mixed back-nine, with birdies at the 11th, 15th and 18th off-set by a double-bogey at the 13th. Following another birdie at the first to get to two-under for the day, Hillier made bogeys at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth holes.
Hillier, who hit just 6-of-15 fairways and 10-of-18 greens in regulation during round two, will tee off his third round on Saturday at 8.08am local time (7.08pm NZT).
Compatriot Sam Jones, a DP World Tour rookie, missed the cut with a five-over 77 in the second round that included three bogeys and a double-bogey.
Also starting at the 10th hole, Jones dropped all his shots on the back-nine as he went four-over through four holes, with bogeys at the 11th and 12th, and a double at the par-four 13th. After another bogey at the 18th, he made nine straight pars on the front-nine.
As Kiwi golfer Fiona Xu chases an LPGA Tour card for next season, she sits in the top-five after the first round at the second-tier Epson Tour's Four Winds Invitational.
Xu fired seven birdies and two bogeys in a five-under 67 on Friday (Saturday NZT) at the South Bend Country Club in South Bend, Indiana to be tied for fourth, three back of the leader.
The 19-year-old made birdies at the first, seventh and eighth holes on the front-nine, and 10th, 12th, 15th and 18th coming in, while bogeys came at the third and 14th holes.
Fellow New Zealander Amelia Garvey has work to do to make the 36-hole cut after a one-over round-of-two-halves 73 in round one, sitting tied for 51st.
Starting on the back-nine, the Canterbury golfer made the turn at four-over, before getting back to even-par with four birdies in five holes, before a bogey at her final hole.
At the Asian Tour's Indonesia Open, Denzel Ieremia is tied for 13th at six-under after the second round on Friday.
Ieremia, with a world ranking of 1919, managed a one-under 70 on day two at the Damai Indrah Golf - PIK Course, following a near-blemish-free five-under 66 in the opening round on Thursday.
The 28-year-old from Wellington managed four birdies and three bogeys on Friday to be eight strokes behind the leader and comfortably above the cut-line.
On the PGA Tour Americas, the Hillier brothers, Charlie and Harry, have had contrasting fortunes at the CRMC Championship in Minnesota.
Charlie Hillier dropped 20 places to a share of 45th after an even-par 70 in the second round on Friday (Saturday NZT), while Harry Hillier was even for the day through 16 holes, at three-over in T129 overall, when play was suspended.
With the projected cut at two-under, Charlie Hillier is likely safe after his three-under 67 on Thursday (Friday NZT), while Harry Hillier would need a miracle to play the weekend.
Finally, it has been a struggle for New Zealand women in Europe, with Momoka Kobori, Wenyung Keh and Munchin Keh off the pace at their respective tournaments.
Kobori missed the cut at the Ladies European Tour's Women's Irish Open after a two-over 75 in the second round on Friday (Saturday NZT) left her in a tie for 87th at three-over, three shots under the cut-line.
Wenyung (seven-over) and Munchin Keh (eight-over) are tied for 109th and 117th, respectively, after the first round of the LET Access Series' Women's Golf Championship in England, with the leader at three-under.
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