BLAKE Windred may be playing at his first Australian Open but the Charlestown gun has never felt more comfortable.
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The just turned 22-year-old fired a second straight 68 to be at six under and a tie for 12th at the halfway point of the $1.5 million championship at The Australian Golf Course.
Matt Jones will take a one-stroke buffer into the weekend after surging into the lead at 10 under with a sizzling six-under-par 65.
A winner at The Australian in 2015 and runner-up in 2017, Jones leads English world No.14 Paul Casey (68,65) and Dimi Papadatos (67,66) by a shot.
British Open-winner Louis Oosthuizen (68,66) headlines five players one shot further back at eight under.
Windred, after "hitting it awful" on the way to a three-under 68 in the opening round "found something" on the range.
The result was a bogey-free three-under par on Friday in which the only blemish was a three-putt on the last when an eagle was on offer.
"On Thursday my ball-striking was awful, but I putted and chipped amazing," Windred said. "I found something Thursday afternoon on the range. It feels really good now. Even though I shot the same score, it was a lot easier. My ball-striking took pressure off the putter."
Windred, who turned professional in October and afforded himself a massage after the second round, expects a few nerves before the third round but will not change his approach.
"I feel very comfortable at The Australian," he said. "To be honest, I feel comfortable in this arena. I will do exactly what I have been doing - trying to hit fairways and make birdies and, when I'm are out of position, realise that par is a good score. Regardless, of where I sit on the leaderboard, I will be doing that for the next couple of days.
"I need to stay patient because when the putter heats up, you can make a lot of birdies. If you try and force it around this course, it will eat you up."
Nathan Green, who added a 69 to his opening-round 70 to be at three under and tied for 30th, is the next best of the Hunter contingent.
Andrew Dodt (72,69) at one-under was on the cut line but James Nitties (73,69), Dylan Perry (75,68), Nick Flanagan (71,74) and Aaron Townsend (76,74) failed to make the field for the weekend. They weren't alone. Major winners Adam Scott (75,67), Sergio Garcia (70,74), Geoff Ogilvy (72,75) and Ernie Els (72,77) also missed the cut at one-under.
Green, who returned to Toronto to "help out with the junior clinic" on Friday afternoon, followed a three-putt bogey at the par-five fifth with three birdies on the back nine.
"That is a bit of a win for me," Green said of making the cut.
"I'm really happy with the score. It doesn't really suit me around here. You have to hit some good tee shots which is the worst part of my game.I haven't made too many mistakes. I have just been getting it in play and going from there.b
"I had plenty of chances and then probably the last four holes I hit some pretty shady shots and managed to make a couple of good up-and-downs.
"Hopefully the driver settles down tomorrow. If I can be even par through the front nine, I will be happy.
"On the back nine, there are two reachable par-fives and probably three holes you can hit a nine-iron or wedge into. You get a few more looks on the back."
Dodt was happy with his recovery after opening with consecutive bogeys on Friday and won't alter much on the weekend.
"It was a rough start but they are two of the hardest holes on the course," he said.
"I knew I was playing well enough to get it back. I thought if I could make one or two birdies before the turn, I knew I would be in a good spot. I managed to turn one-under which was a nice recovery.
"You just have to plot your way around and if you have a chance at birdie take it. If you miss a green, salvage par."
