Jordan Smith and Gavin Green share lead at halfway point at Portugal Masters

England's Jordan Smith and Malaysia's Gavin Green share the lead at the halfway point of the Portugal Masters.

Overnight leader Smith finished his second round with back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th to head into the weekend on 13 under par at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course after following up Thursday's flawless 62 with a 67.

He joined fellow morning starter Green on that mark after the Malaysian had carded seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his second-round 65.

Finn Tapio Pulkkanen and Frenchman Benjamin Hebert were one shot back in a tie for third after they each followed up opening 66s with matching 64s to remain bogey-free after 36 holes, while there was a four-man group on 11 under.

But Northern Irish duo Jonathan Caldwell and Cormac Sharvin both missed the cut. Caldwell was unable to build on his opening 69, carding a one-over 72 that left him on one under, three shots adrift of the cut mark.

Sharvin was five shots further back on four over after a second consecutive 73.

LEADERBOARD

Joint-leader Smith has been struggling with illness after catching flu last weekend but showed no sign of that out on course.

He said: "It's always tough following a round like that yesterday.

"I felt like I hit it just as good, just missed a couple more greens and didn't quite putt as well, but I was happy with the way I finished there."

With this week's event being the last chance for players to earn points to keep their DP World Tour playing privileges, several of those who needed to make the cut in order to keep their hopes alive did so.