ISPS HANDA Australian Open - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from the second round in Melbourne.

Lucas Herbert turned his slender lead into a commanding one while Elvis Smylie continued to impress on day two of the 2025 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

Here is everything you need to know from the second round in Melbourne.

Herbert moves further ahead

Home favourite Herbert went into Friday with a narrow one-shot lead but two brilliant bursts of scoring either side of a sticky patch around the turn on day two catapulted him four clear at the halfway stage. He flew out of the blocks with an eagle and two birdies in the first three holes at Kingston Heath before parring his way to the turn. The Australian surrendered his first bogey of the week on the tenth, where a clutch 12-foot putt prevented further damage. That cut his advantage to one shot and although Herbert got into yet more trouble at the 12th, he managed to save par from six feet to remain out in front. A hat-trick of birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th then handed him a healthy lead and he heads into the weekend at 14 under par.

Ding makes big move

After kicking off the week with an eventful 71 on Thursday, Wenyi Ding enjoyed smooth sailing on day two at Victoria Golf Club as he shot seven birdies in a flawless 64 to storm into contention. He sits six shots off the lead at the halfway stage and ready to challenge over the weekend.

Lee agonisingly close to ace

You don't come much closer to an ace than this stunner from Min Woo Lee at Victoria's seventh hole...

Elvis entertains the crowds

Last week's winner Smylie put on a show again on home soil at Kingston Heath on Friday. Check out this sensational bunker shot...

Johnston's birdie burst

Ryggs Johnston started the day a single shot off the lead before two bogeys in the first three holes of his second round saw his challenge falter. But he bounced back in style, opening his birdie account for the day at the 15th before reeling off five in a row on the 17th, 18th, first, second and third to climb the leaderboard. He sits alone in second place on ten under, four shots behind Herbert.