EDDIE Pepperell shot a second-round 67 to stay right in contention at the halfway stage of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.

Having shot a super 66 on the first day, the Abingdon golfer finished on a nine-under par 133, just two shots behind leaders Lucas Bjerregard, of Denmark, and Scotland’s Marc Warren.

Pepperell, who birdied the first two holes of his second round and followed it with further birdies at the 11th and 14th in a bogey-free display, shared the early clubhouse lead earlier in the day.

This maintained a strong run of form for Pepperell, who has had top-five finishes in his previous two tournament outings.