Fox needs to work hard for PGA Tour spot

On the green: Ryan Fox putts during his round at the Pro-Am.

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Ryan Fox has some work to do during the next two days if he's going to realise his dream of playing on the PGA Tour in 2013.

The rookie New Zealand golf professional stood on the 17th tee during the second round of a  first stage qualifying event today in excellent shape - he was four-under par and tied for fourth in the field of 78.

The top 19 players and ties after four rounds will progress to the second of three stages and Fox was two shots above the current cut mark.

But he carded a double-bogey at the par-four 17th and closed with a bogey at the par-five 18th, his only dropped shots of the day, to sign for an even-par 72 at the Dayton Valley Golf Club in Dayton, Nevada.

It leaves the 25-year-old with a one-under total 143 through two rounds and in a tie for 30th. European Tour player Oliver Fisher from England leads the field at eight-under par.

The cut-off mark is projected to be as low as four or five under so Fox, who suffered from food poisoning on the eve of the tournament, will need to play well during the next two days.

He's totalled nine birdies through the first two rounds but has struggled to limit the damage when he has strayed, with two double-bogeys and a triple-bogey.

Fox, who was a leading New Zealand amateur and is the son of All Black Grant Fox, headed to the United States with three wins in his first year as a professional including two overseas victories - at the Fiji and Tahiti Opens.

- © Fairfax NZ News