Hunter golfer Corey Lamb makes cut at New Zealand Open with late birdie

Having only qualified for the $1.9 million tournament last week, the 22-year-old teetered on the edge of missing the weekend at Millbrook Golf Resort before sinking a decisive birdie on his third last hole on Friday afternoon.

Lamb's two-under 69 at the Coronet course, mirroring Thursday's total from the Remarkables, took him to four-under (138) overall alongside 20 other players.

The cut line eventually landed at four under.

Lamb dropped below to three under late in the piece with a bogey on the fifth before returning above with a birdie on the seventh.

Closing his round with back-to-back pars, Lamb managed to maintain his position at tied 58^th.

Earlier in that same nine, Lamb recorded consecutive birdies (holes two and three) to put himself within range after a bogey (one) opening.

Lamb hit birdies (11, 18) either side of a bogey (13) during his first nine.

The rest of the local contingent all missed the cut - Upper Hunter product Dylan Perry picked up a stroke to finish two under (140), Charlestown's Andrew Dodt dropped a shot at even par (142) while Belmont's Nick Flanagan stayed one over (143).

Scott Hend's 12-under (130) leads at the halfway mark with Rio Olympics teammate Marcus Fraser one of five players trailing by two (132).