PAUL DUNNE HAS followed up an excellent opening day at the DP World Tour Championship with a strong showing in the second round.

Dunne in Dubai today. Kamran Jebreili Kamran Jebreili

This year’s British Masters champion sat two shots off leader Patrick Reed heading into Friday at Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates thanks to a five-under-par 67.

Wicklow native Dunne holed two eagles — including this brilliant chip on the seventh — but four bogeys left him with a score of 70 this morning.

At the halfway point, he’s tied for sixth and level with Reed, Soren Kjeldsen, Tommy Fleetwood, Dean Burmester, Ryan Fox and Alexander Bjork. That is three back from England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, who now leads the way on 10-under-par.

Tyrrell Hatton sits just one shot off Fitzpatrick, with a trio of Kieradech Aphibarnrat, Julian Suri and Justin Rose directly behind him.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry carded a 70 to add to yesterday’s 69, meaning he’s still alive on five-under.

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Dunne gets off to flying start as Race to Dubai hots up, Lowry enjoys solid first round