England’s Mark Foster joined overnight leader Zander Lombard in a share of the clubhouse lead midway through the second round of the Australian PGA Championship in Queensland.
The 40 year old, who lost his European Tour card at the end of last season to find himself without full playing rights for the first time since 2001, had been two shots behind former Amateur Championship runner-up Lombard following an opening 69.
Starting his second round at the tenth, birdies at the 11th and 15th lifted Foster to five under before he dropped a first shot of the day on the 17th.
A double bogey at the short second was his only deviation from par on the way in, but with scoring conditions at RACV Royal Pines Resort remaining tough, Foster’s one over 73 was enough for a share of top spot along with Lombard on two under par.
The 20 year old Lombard had carded a flawless 67 on day one, but produced a mix bag as four bogeys, four birdies and a triple bogey seven on the 13th gave him a 75.
Lombard’s fellow South African Dylan Frittelli found himself sharing the lead before he had even teed off, with Australian quartet Rhein Gibson, Ashley Hall, Jason Scrivener and Todd Sinnott sharing fourth on one under.
Gibson’s position was all the more impressive as he started the day seven over before reeling off seven birdies, three bogeys and two eagles in a thrilling best-of-the-week 64.
