New Zealander Josh Geary has the clubhouse lead at 10-under-par at the NSW Open after firing a four-under 68 in Friday’s second round at Stonecutters Ridge golf club.

Geary shot a bogey-free round with birdies at the third and fourth holes, before making further birdies at the par-5 10th and 15th.

He holds a two-stroke lead over first-round leader Steve Jones, who has just begun his second round in stifling conditions in western Sydney.

Geary was happy with his play, but rued missed opportunities on the greens.

“I played great the first two days. I didn’t make as many putts as I would have liked today. I was putting well – they just didn’t drop,” Geary said.

With the conditions getting tougher, his two-shot lead could be hard to reel in.

Halfway through the day, only a handful of players had done better, with New South Welshman Leigh McKechnie and Victorian Daniel Valente shooting rounds of five-under 67.

Geary predicts expected strong winds could make the course tougher for the afternoon players.

“It played a lot shorter than when I played the practice rounds. It’s getting drier, the greens are firming up and I guess this afternoon will be worse for the boys with the wind as well to make tough conditions,” Geary said.

Victorian veteran Chris Gaunt is in the clubhouse holding down third at seven under, while there is a host of players finished at six under including Valente, Matthew Giles and James Gibellini.

Comeback kid Ewan Porter looks likely to make the cut finishing at one under and no major names look like missing the weekend action at this stage.

The current cut line is predicted to be even par.