Simon Yates and Marc Warren in top 10 in Thailand

Scotland's Simon Yates during the second round of the 2016 True Thailand Classic. Picture: Getty

Thai-based Yates backed up an opening 67 with a 68 at Black Mountain, his home club, to lie joint-fourth on nine-under, three shots behind leaders Pelle Edberg and Scott Hend.

Warren is a shot further back in a share of ninth after a second successive 68, consistency which was lacking, unfortunately, from compatriot Scott Jamieson as he followed Thursday’s 66 with a 76 to slip from third overnight to joint-63rd.

Yates, a two-time Asian Tour winner who is known by his peers as “The Wee Man”, has been based in Thailand for just over 20 years and lives 50 yards from the 10th tee on this course.

The Glasgow-born player, who turns 46 next Wednesday, was delighted to reach the halfway stage as a title contender but reckons he should have been heading into the weekend closer to the lead.

“I played really good today,” Yates, who represented Scotland as a downhill skiier before deciding to pursue a career in golf, told European Tour Radio.

“I was really happy the way I was hitting it out there but struggled to get the ball in the hole.

“It was one of those days when I could have gone really low but, at the end of the day, you’ve got to be happy shooting four-under.”

Yates, who spent five years as an assistant professional at Royal Burgess, signed for five birdies on a day when his only blemish was the result of a three-putt at the third.

“I hit a lot of shots into 8-12 feet but didn’t make that many putts,” he added. “I’ve never been renowned for being a good putter but hopefully I can do a bit better in that respect over the weekend with a bit of practice.

“It is always nice to see your name on the board. Any time in this position it’s been my putting that has let me down.”

His last win was in the 2004 SK Telecom Open in Korea while his best recent performances have included third and fourth respectively in the 2014 Dubai Open and 2013 Thailand Open.

“My ball striking yesterday and today has been more liked it used to be, which is great,” said one one of the top all-time career money-winners on the Asian Tour.

“Hopefully I can get putter working and then we can have some low numbers at the weekend.”

Warren has slipped from just outside the world’s top 50 to 89th after a sticky finish to last season and slow start to the new one.

But, helped by an eagle and four birdies in his second circuit, the 34-year-old has given himself a chance to re-light the missing spark.

“I’ve made an eagle and 11 birdies over two days, which has been nice as that’s the one thing I’ve been missing compared to normal,” said the three-time European Tour winner.

Two off the lead at the start of the day after a flawless opening effort, Jamieson slipped 10 shots back after managing just one birdie second time around.

With a double bogey and three bogeys on his card, the 32-year-old ended up making the cut with nothing to spare as it fell at two-under.

That meant early exits for both Andrew McArthur and Craig Lee as matching 70s left them sitting on level-par and one-over respectively.

Swede Edberg carded seven birdies and two bogeys to add a 67 to his opening 65 and finish 12 under par, a total matched late in the day by Australian Hend after a brilliant 64.

Edberg, 36, is one of seven players in the field to use Black Mountain as a winter training base.

Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat is a shot off the lead after a flawless 65, with Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies, South African Shaun Norris and American duo Peter Uihlein and David Lipsky alongside Yates on nine-under.