Birdies were the order of the morning in the second round of
the Holden NZ PGA Championship at Remuera Golf Club.

Teeing off the 10^th, overnight leader James Nitties believed his round of 4-under 68 was the equivalent of even par with the course offering up plenty of low numbers.

However it was enough to see Nitties retain a share of the lead, at 11-under the card, heading into the weekend.

"I shot four-under par but it felt like even par. The par fives are playing really short, there are a few birdies out there," said Nitties, who bogeyed his final hole of the day.

It was no wonder Nitties felt like his 4-under the card was only average, his playing partner Kiwi Josh Geary was draining putts from everywhere as he fired 7-under 65 to also be 11-under the card after two rounds.

"Playing with Josh (Geary) today, he had seven putts for the first nine holes so he was holing everything and not so much for anyone else," added Nitties.

Thanks to the putting form that impressed his playing partner, Geary got off to a blistering start launching himself up the leaderboard early in the round.

"I managed some really good recoveries and great putting early on, and I was able to take advantage of the par fives. I played the first 10 holes in seven-under so it was a good start," said Geary 

"I holed three bombs from 30 odd feet and a chip in too. It was one of those days where the hole looked as big as a bucket and they kept going in."

Not to be out done was New South Welshman Scott Arnold who overcame a slow start storming home with three birdies and an eagle.

His 7-under the card also has him tied for the lead with Nitties and Geary.

"I was a little scrappy at the start, and then I had a good run through the turn. I birdied 15, 16, 17 and then I eagle 18 so that catapulted everything up," said Arnold.  

"I played a lot better on the front side, just didn’t hole any putts. It could have been a lot better but at the end of the day I will take it considering how I felt this morning and the way I was hitting it."

Queenslander Tim Hart consolidated his first round with a 3-under 69 today. He is outright fourth and two shots off the lead.

New Zealanders Nick Gillespie and Gareth Paddison along with Anthony Houston, who is celebrating his 24^th birthday today, round out the top-5 on 8-under the card.

The highlight of the morning belonged to New Zealander Mathew Perry who equalled the course record, set by Kristopher Mueck, with his 8-under 65 second round. He is now tied 10^th on 7-under the card.

The afternoon field are now on course with the cut projected to be at 2-under the card.