New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier has climbed to solo second during the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Hillier fired a bogey-free seven-under 65 at the Emirates Golf Club in the UAE on Friday (Saturday NZ Time) to move to 11-under, one stroke behind the 36-hole leader, Scotland's Ewen Ferguson.
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The 26-year-old rolled in a 15-foot putt for eagle on the par-five 18th to take the clubhouse lead, before Ferguson, who is yet to make a bogey, finished birdie-eagle for his own seven-under round.
Hillier made back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth holes, before three straight tweeters at the 11th, 12th and 13th to sit with the leaders.
The world No 233 was wayward off the tee, hitting just 5-of-14 fairways, but avoided trouble and landed on 15-of-18 greens in regulation, typified by his stunning approach shot from the short-rough on the closing hole.
Fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox remains in a strong position after a two-under 70 in the second round, to be tied for 12th at six-under, six shots back.
The world No 87 finished strong, with four birdies on the back-nine, at the 10th, 11th, 13th and 16th holes, along with a bogey. He had two bogeys and a birdie on the front-nine.
Fox tees off in the third round on Saturday at 11am local time (8pm NZT), while Hillier goes off in the final group at 11.40am local time (8.40pm NZT).