GolfSweden's Niclas Fasth equalled the course record of nine-under-par 63 yesterday to grab a two-shot lead after the second round of the New Zealand Open at the Gulf Harbour Resort course near Auckland.

Fasth made three eagles and three birdies in a spectacular round to reach the halfway stage of the championship ahead on 16-under-par 128.

England's Miles Tunnicliff also equalled the course record, collecting eight birdies and an eagle in his 63, to finish the day in second place at 14 under par.

Another Briton, Oliver Wilson, fired a 65 to move to outright third, one shot behind Tunnicliff, with the Australian pair of Simon Nash and Jarrod Moseley tied at 12 under.

Richard Green, who also shot a 63 to equal the record set by set by American Scott Verplank and Swede Patrik Sjoland at the 1998 World Cup, was among a group of seven players at 11 under.

That group included Wexford's Damien McGrane, who added a flawless, six-under-par 66 to his opening 67.

Peter Lawrie was three shots further back after a second consecutive 65. But Gary Murphy, after a 71, finished on level par 144 to miss the cut by four shots.

Fasth, runner-up at the 2001 British Open, birdied the second hole, then eagled the par-five sixth to go out in 33 before coming home in 30.

The 32-year-old made an eagle three on the 11th hole, then holed out from a bunker for another eagle on the par-four 12th.

"I played really well down the stretch. It wasn't that spectacular, it was just pure good playing and good putting as well," Fasth said.

"No lead is safe. I just hope to keep playing like this, it's given me a good chance to win any tournament."

Tunnicliff dropped an early shot with a bogey at the fourth, but picked up seven shots over the next seven holes and also birdied the last two. The 36-year-old played in the morning when the conditions were perfect, and said he was relieved to escape the wind that blew up in the afternoon.

"Judging the wind properly and getting the ball on the right side of the hole is tough when the wind is blowing hard," he said.

Green went out in 29 after making five birdies and an eagle on the front nine. He dropped a shot on the 12th but birdied the last two, including a chip-in at the last.