Chris Doak arrived on the sun-splashed Algarve staring at the likelihood of losing his European Tour card but now the Scot is daring to dream of victory in the Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.
The Glaswegian continues to make a mockery of his maiden showing on the Oceanico Victoria course adding a second-round 64 to his opening 67 to move into a share of fourth place on 11-under-par 131.
South African Hennie Otto (63) and the England pair of David Lynn (65) and Paul Waring (64) share the lead on 12 under.
Doak capped his round holing a 10ft putt for eagle at the par-5 12th hole and minutes after landing a 140yd nine iron to 6ft for birdie at the 11th.
The Scot began his round with back-to-back birdies in landing a 142yd eight iron to 3ft at the first and putting a wedge from 102yd to 6ft at the second.
Just when Doak looked likely to drop a shot at the last after his approach shot was way right, he chipped to 4ft and knocked in the par putt.
“It was a fantastic round of golf and, after getting off to such a great start, it was just really steady after that.
“To end bogey-free is really nice and something that I have not been doing,” he said.
“It all goes back to what I said at the start of the week – that I’m just really relaxed and playing carefree golf.
“All I need to do is just walk up and hit the shots.
“Also it was a bit windy today and, while it’s much hotter here than back home, growing up in the wind in Scotland is something I’ve long been used to.”
Doak had posted a career low round of 63 in his last event, the Alfred Dunhill links championship, while his Portugal opening 36-hole effort is also a career best for the 35-year-old, whose best finish in some 78 tour events is sixth in last year’s Lyoness Open in Austria.
He arrived on the Algarve lying 112th on Race to Dubai and two spots outside of retaining automatic tour membership with the Portuguese event and next week’s Perth International in far off Australian remaining.
Victory would send Doak well inside the top-60 and also into the end-of-season final series, starting next fortnight in Shanghai.
Paul Lawrie continues to struggle with the same mystery energy-sapping bug he had last week in France for the Seve Trophy.
The former Open champion put that aside to post five birdies in a bogey-free 66 to move to seven under par.
But again hurting the Scot, as he looks for a first victory this year, was another frustrating day on the greens.
“I played lovely today but must have missed six putts inside 10ft and just can’t get the ball in the hole,” he said.
“So, in saying that, I should be nine, 10 or 11 under and not seven, so it’s disappointing.
“I’m just not feeling that well and that was the case last week in France because I don’t have any energy and feel really lethagic.
“I’m still taking the medication I was prescribed last week, so, hopefully, I can shake it over the weekend”
Stephen Gallacher moved up to five under after a 67, while fellow Scot Richie Ramsay is two under after his second-successive 70.