A day after Riverside's Kalem Richardson got to the top of the leaderboard at Kingston Heath, his former state teammate has taken his chance to enjoy the media spotlight.

A one-under-par second round of 71 took the Wynyard player to five-under for the championship in a tie with England's reigning champion Ian Poulter for fourth.

It could have been even better for Hancock, whose bogey on the par-four 18th denied him the chance to join Adam Scott in a tie for third, three shots behind Queensland's leader Matthew Guyatt.

Hancock had finished day 1 tied with Richardson on four-under.

A horror back-nine in windy conditions saw Richardson slip down the standings, the 24-year-old having shot two birdies early in his round before six bogeys in nine holes saw him finish three-over for the day in a six-way tie for 12th.