Paul Dunne followed up his opening round 68 with a one-under par 69 at the Hong Kong Open at Fanling, but is now eight shots adrift of leader Rafa Cabrera Bello.
The Wicklow man was four shots off the lead after the first day of action, and picked up birdies at the sixth and seventh holes, before dropping a shot at the ninth.
Dunne was level par on the back nine, making birdie at the 10th and dropping a shot at the par-four 15th.
The 24-year-old is now three-under at the halfway stage and in 20th position overall, with Cabrero Bello setting the pace at the front.
The Spaniard shot a five-under 65 to extend his lead to three strokes, as U.S. Masters champion Danny Willett moved into contention for the weekend.
Cabrera-Bello, one shot ahead overnight, rolled in six birdies with a solitary bogey to lead Australian Sam Brazel, who was in outright second place after shooting a second successive 66 in the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
"I managed to play good again. I played solid and put myself in very few risky positions," said Cabrera-Bello, who was on 11-under with a total of 129, chasing his first win on the tour in four years.
"I felt in control again, just managed to keep up the good work like yesterday. I know I will win again. I've won before. I just need to keep giving myself chances."
Willett, who became only the second Englishman to win the Masters in April, was among of group of four in third place after shooting a 66.
After a frustrating opening round blighted by four bogeys, Ian Poulter endured a horror quadruple-bogey on the 15th and dropped another shot on the 18th to finish with a two-over 72.
Poulter, who just made the cut on even par, found a greenside bunker on the 15th, failed to get out of it on his first attempt and put his second over the green.
Olympic champion Justin Rose shot a 69 to finish on one under, 10 strokes off the pace.
