The Duntryleague teen carded a seven-under-par total of 65 to go with his 75 on Thursday, putting him in a tie for 23^rd position when he’d completed his second round.

The right-hander lit up the Twin Creeks layout’s closing stretch on Friday, carding five birdies and an eagle in his last eight holes.

His 29 on the back nine – which followed an even par first half of his round – propelled him to a 36-hole score of four under, a comfortable five shots better than the tournament’s projected cut line.

It also had him sitting in second position in the event’s amateur standings, three shots adrift of Japan’s Ren Yonezawa.

As of early Friday afternoon, NSW’s Harrison Endycott led the 156-strong field at 12 shots under par after shooting the day’s best total, an eight-under-par 64.

James’ father Steve – who recently retired after more than two decades on the Japanese tour – caddied for his son.

A field of 20 juniors will contest a tournament named in Steve’s honour at his home course of Duntryleague on Sunday, with a further 60 youngsters expected to take up the clubs at a free come-and-try session between 11am-2pm on the same day.