BY BRENDAN JAMES AT METROPOLITAN GOLF CLUB

Queensland journeyman Michael Wright will take a two-stroke lead into the weekend rounds of the BetEasy Australian Masters after carding a four under 68 at Metropolitan Golf Club today.

The 42-year-old, whose biggest career wins include the WA PGA and the NSW Open, started the day tied for the lead at five under and quickly picked up a shot at his second hole of the day, the par-3 11th.

Michael Wright has been a model of consistency during the first two rounds. PHOTO: Getty Images Michael Wright has been a model of consistency during the first two rounds. PHOTO: Getty Images

As he has done for most of first two rounds, he played conservative mistake-free golf for the next 10 holes, accruing par after par along the way. He then stamped his presence on the leaderboard with a hat-trick of birdies starting at the 4th hole. He parred the remaining holes to sign for a flawless 68 and a 36-hole total of 135, nine under.

Wright has had a long-standing affection for the Metropolitan course going back to his amateur days when his home club, the Brisbane Golf Club, had reciprocal rights with the Melbourne Sandbelt course. That said, this is only the fifth time he has played the course.

Now, his affinity with the layout is helping him put in one of the best performances of his career.

“I like it more and more every day,” Wright said of Metropolitan. “Might join up and see how we go.”

After going bogey free in his second round, the only blemish on Wright’s scorecard remains the bogey he made at his first hole yesterday.

“Obviously turned around really well,” Wright smiled. “But it's funny because mentally after that first hole yesterday, I was really calm.

Paul Spargo made an incredible eight birdies during his second round 67. PHOTO: Getty Images Paul Spargo made an incredible eight birdies during his second round 67. PHOTO: Getty Images

“My coach and I in the last couple of months have been doing some really good work and when you have that sort of in the back of the mind, it's sort of inner confidence that I had and it didn't faze me at all.

“Then went on to obviously shoot quite a few birdies since. After the bogey on the first, just maintained the calmness and just kept on going. Did a great job,” he laughed.

His playing partner in the final group for the third round will be South Australian Paul Spargo who crept up the leaderboard with a five under 67 that included eight birdies.

Wright leads a packed leaderboard with South Australian Paul Spargo just two shots behind courtesy of a 5-under 67 today.

Metropolitan member Todd Sinnott added a one under 71 to his opening round 67 to be tied third at six under with Richard Green, who won this title at neighbouring Huntingdale 10 years ago. Today, the veteran left-hander turned back the clock and carded four birdies and an eagle to make his presence felt.

All eyes were on World No.2 Adam Scott as he began his second round shortly after midday and was seven shots adrift of the then clubhouse leader, the 22-year-old amateur Sinnott.

The Queenslander banked two solid pars before capitalising on a good approach on the par-4 3rd, which he birdied. He handed that shot straight back at the next with a sloppy three-putt bogey, but it just might have been the catalyst Scott needed to put the foot on the accelerator.

He birdied the par-4 5th and was glad to finish with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 6th after his second shot finished 80 feet from the flag. He rolled his eagle attempt to within two feet and tapped-in for birdie.

Adam Scott's confidence on the greens seems to be growing. PHOTO: Getty Images Adam Scott's confidence on the greens seems to be growing. PHOTO: Getty Images

The 34-year-old missed the green at the next, a long par-3 that has played harder than its par since the first groups played it on Thursday morning. But Scott managed to get up and down for his par and he headed to the next tee buoyant after a good one-putt.

The 2013 US Masters Champion then eagled the par-5 8th and two holes later he rolled in a good putt for another birdie. If not for a bogey at the par-4 16th, Scott would be in the top-10 heading into the weekend, instead he’s tied for 12th with six shots still to make up on Wright.

"I felt, certainly, on the front nine, there was a low round out there," Scott said.

"If it's similar conditions tomorrow, with three par-5s on the front nine, someone is going to turn low, it's possible.

"But, still have to hit a lot of good shots and make a lot of putts to do it."

Leader Wright knows the challengers will come and Scott may be one of them.

“I’m just going to play, this is a golf course you've got to play the course,” Wright said.

“I don't even know what he (Scott) shot today. I'm not concerned with what he's doing.

“I'm not playing any other guys no matter who is in the field. Obviously he's a fantastic player and I would expect him to play well over the weekend. But I would expect myself to play well, too.”

And so will a sponsor. As is the lot of a journeyman pro, sponsorship can be difficult to come bay and it didn’t go unnoticed that his cap has a big blank space in front. This writer reckons it will be filled by the time he hits off in the final round on Saturday afternoon.

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