South Africa's Tim Clark hit a second-round 70 to retain the lead at the Australian Masters at Huntingdale this morning, but tournament drawcard John Daly (76, 73) missed the cut, along with Ireland's Gareth Maybin, whose 73 was only good enough for a six-over-par finish.

At seven-under, Clark leads by one stroke from journeyman Australian Anthony Summers who got to eight-under before dropping two shots on his final three holes for a 68. Former amateur world number one Michael Sim fired an error-free 66.

One stroke further back among a menacing pack of seven players sits tournament favourite, Robert Allenby who picked up five shots on the back nine for a 66.

Joint first-round leader Scott Hend finished with a one-over 73 to drop to four-under.

The individual highlight of the day was provided by 27-year-old Aaron Townsend of New South Wales who arrived at the course at the crack of dawn to complete the final five holes of his first round that were stymied by Thursday's electrical storm.

He made a complete hash of it, finishing with four bogeys for a three-over 75.

After a short break to compose himself Townsend ripped into his second round and equalled the course record with a 64 to join Allenby on five-under.

The field generally took full advantage of Friday's calm, quiet conditions on a course softened by overnight rain.

One exception was Clark, the runner-up behind Phil Mickelson at Augusta National in 2006, who is competing in Australia for the first time.

"I had a lot more birdie chances and with the greens being softer it was easier to get it closer, and I just didn't make anything," Clark said. "I made one putt of about eight feet for birdie on the first which was my back nine, and that was it all day.

"I left a lot out there on the greens ... but I'm still in a great position.

"It seems like it's going to be quite bunched-up with how the course is playing so really it's about playing four solid rounds."

Daly, who is apparently keen to contest the Australian Open at Royal Sydney after next week's PGA at Coolum, failed to come to terms with the wind at Huntingdale on Thursday and the greens on Friday.

"I had a couple of eagle opportunities and hit horrible putts, three-putted one of them," Daly said. "When you don't putt good, it's not much fun, it's tough.

"I had opportunities today and they just didn't fall."