Maarten Lafeber is halfway leader by two in Portugal

Maarten Lafeber led the Portugal Masters by two strokes at the halfway stage after another impressive round at the Oceanico Victoria course in Vilamoura.

While the 35-year-old Dutchman could not quite match his impressive opening 64, when he carded 11 birdies, his round of 67 was enough to give him sole leadership on 13 under par heading into the weekend.

Mikko Ilonen was his closest challenger after the Finn carded a four-under-par 68, with local hopeful Jose-Filipe Lima and Raphael Jacquelin a stroke further back. Lafeber started the day level on eight under with Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors, but both Swedes slipped off the pace. Karlsson carded a 71 to be four strokes off the pace with Edfors' even round leaving him a shot back.

Lafeber eagled the par-four second before birdies in three of his next four holes. Ilonen, who shot an unblemished round with four birdies, had set the early clubhouse lead but Lafeber built a lead, despite dropping a shot at the par-three eighth, with birdies at 10 and 12.

Lafeber had a late hiccup when he drove into the water on the 17th but recovered enough to drop just a single stroke and preserve his lead going into the weekend. But with the Oceanico Victoria playing friendly, and with perfect conditions expected over the weekend, Lafeber's lead is likely to come under attack.

Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari showed how the Algarve course can be tamed with the round of the day as he shot a 10-under-par 62, following his 74 yesterday, to haul himself back into contention on eight under.

Of the Scots in the field, Paul Lawrie sits five off the pace in a tie for 11th with Richie Ramsay a further two shots adrift. Alastair Forsyth, Peter Whiteford, Stephen Gallacher, David Drysdale and Marc Warren all missed the cut.