Richard Sterne went bogey-free on Friday for his six-under-par 66 to move into a share of third place at the halfway mark of the DP World Tour’s Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club.

Sterne made three birdies on each of the nines as he moved to 10-under-par for the tournament. That was just two strokes off the lead which was held by American Patrick Reed. Reed had a five-under 67 to go with his opening 65, and he was one stroke clear of Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren. Sterne shared third with New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier.

Sterne made the last of his six birdies when he holed out from a greenside bunker on the penultimate hole. “I wasn’t expecting that,” he admitted. “I hit a full eight-iron (approach), it just clearly wasn’t enough, needed another yard or two, and, yeah, the bunker shot just came out perfect and I was pretty happy with that.

“I’ve been driving it well, and my iron-play has been pretty solid. And putting’s starting to get better so that helps with making some birdies. I made a few decent putts today, so pretty happy.”

Hennie du Plessis also produced a bogey-free round, with his seven birdies lifting him into a share of 10th at the halfway mark on seven-under-par.

Dylan Frittelli and Daniel van Tonder were in a share of 33rd on four-under-par after rounds of 70 and 71 respectively, while Jacques Kruyswijk and Jayden Schaper were a further stroke back on three-under in a share of 37th.

Brandon Stone was on two-under to make the cut on the number after his second round of one-under-par 71.

Jonathan Broomhead, Casey Jarvis, JC Ritchie, Michael Hollick, Dylan Naidoo, Darren Fichardt, Zander Lombard, Justin Harding and Ockie Strydom all missed the cut.