New Zealand is tied for seventh after the second round of the World Cup of Golf in China

New Zealand is tied for seventh after the second round of the World Cup of Golf in China.

A four under par 68 in the second round foursomes has the kiwi team of David Smail and Danny Lee at nine under, some nine shots behind runaway leader Ireland.

Smail said playing foursomes is tricky as one mistake can cost your partner.

Ireland holds a three shot lead over second placed Sweden.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell who stumbled on the back nine but recovered to retain a three-stroke lead after the second-round foursomes.

The Ulstermen, who shot a 58 in the first round fourballs, finished with two birdies in their last three holes to keep the defending champion Swedes at bay with a four-under-par 68 for an 18-under total.

"Still leading which is great. We started out the day with a three shot lead and we still have a three shot lead," the 20-year-old McIlroy told reporters.

"Apart from the couple of mistakes on the back nine, we could have got a really good score in there. But I think in the end we showed really good character to come back with two birdies on 16 and 17."

Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, looking to make Sweden the first country to win back-to-back titles since the US in 2000, carded seven birdies in the only blemish-free round of the day for a 65 and second place.