Dean Burmester posted an eight-under-par 63 on Thursday in the second round of the Asian Tour’s PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, to move into a share of sixth at the halfway mark of the tournament.

Burmester started his round on the 10th hole, and immediately came with a flurry of birdies to reach the turn in six-under-par 30. He dropped a shot on the first immediately after the turn, and quickly got back into the swing of things with three more birdies before the end of his round.

At 10-under-par through 36 holes, he was four strokes off the lead which was held by American Caleb Surratt. Surratt had a bogey-free five-under-par 66 to reach 14-under and lead Belgium’s Thomas Pieters by one. Pieters also had a 66 in the second round.

In a surprising third place, together with Spaniard Javier Ballester and England’s Tyrrell Hatton, was Anthony Kim. The American had a bogey-free seven-under-par 63 in the second round.

Burmester shared sixth with Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Korean Seungbin Choi.

Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent was in a share of 12th after his four-under 67 took him to eight-under.

Branden Grace was on seven-under after his 67 took him to a share of 19th with, amongst others, compatriot Louis Oosthuizen and Jaco Ahlers. The 2010 Open champion had a second round of one-under-par 70, and Ahlers a two-under 69.