New Zealand set a record for lowest second-round score to take the top spot of a tightly packed leader board at 20-under-par 270 through 36 holes by one stroke over Denmark, Thailand and host Ireland.
The Kiwis posted a 13-under 131 on the par-72 Montgomerie Course with a 65 from Daniel Hillier, who holed a birdie putt on the 18th for the outright team lead, and a 66 from Denzel Ieremia to jump from fifth place to the lead.
Thailand had earlier posted the same score of 131 on the ‘Monty’ with a 65 from World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR™) No. 13. Sadom Kaewkanjana and a 66 from Witchavanon Chothirunrungrueng.
After a morning of rain, temperatures rose and scoring conditions improved, producing a slew of under-par scores and shifts on the scoreboard.
Playing the par-73 O’Meara Course, first-round leader Denmark posted a 7-under 139 (69 from John Axelsen and identical 70s from identical twins Ramus and World No. 7 Nicolai Hjogaard). Home side Ireland posted 9-under 133 on a 68 from No. 10 Robin Dawson and a 69 from Conor Purcell.
Also making a significant move up the scoreboard with a 13-under score of 133 was Canada, who sits fifth at 18 under thanks to a 66 from Hugo Bernard and a 67 from Joey Savoie.
Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., is the leading Canadian in individual play. The 24-year-old sits T19 at 7-under 138.
Bernard, 23, from Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., and Garrett Rank, 30, of Elmira, Ont., are among a pack of players holding a share of 31st at 5-under 140.