Shane Lowry needs just one big performance over the next four weeks to move into the world's Top 50 and clinch his Masters debut.

But this could well be the week after he fired a six udner 66 in the in the second round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai to join Graeme McDowell (69) in a share of eighth at halfway.

While Rory McIlroy's absence from the first two Final Series events in China has reduced the number of world ranking points on offer, 54th ranked Lowry looks poised to book his spot on that plane to Augusta National next April.

Six birdies in an immaculate round left the Clara man six behind leader Nicolas Colsaerts after the Belgian bomber added a 64 to his opening 66 to lead one one on 14 under par from overnight leader Alexander Levy (66) of France.

There are also huge financial rewards on offer through the Race to Dubai Bonus Pool and with Lowry, already 13th on the list,  he's hoping to finish the year inside the Top 10 with a third European Tour win under his belt.

As for Colsaerts, he described himself as “in the zone” as he made nine birdies at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai to reach 14 under and leapfrog overnight leader Levy.

“I felt like I've been in the zone a couple of times recently," Colsaerts said. "It's pretty nice when you can get it going like this, and I've been playing quite well for the last couple of months.

“When you're playing in these kind of conditions where the ball doesn't travel as far, the difference between a long hitter and a short hitter becomes a bit more significant than if you play a bouncy place.

"I think the condition of the golf course and the way the air is here makes a big difference; it will definitely suit long hitters, without a doubt.”

McDowell had five birdies but dropped two shot in his 69 but Michael Hoey shot a 68 that could have been a lot lower were it not for a poor back nine.

Starting at the 10th, he racked up six birdies in eight holes to turn in 30, got to seven under with a birdie at the third but then bogeyed three of his last six.

He ended the day tied for 17th on six under while Euroepan Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley slipped back to tied 55th on level par after a 73.

BMW Masters, Lake Malaren, Shanghai (Par 72)

130 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 66 64, 

131 A Levy (Fra) 65 66, 

133 R Wattel  (Fra) 66 67, 

134 B Grace  (RSA) 68 66, E Grillo (Arg) 66 68, M Siem  (Ger) 68 66, 

135 T Bjørn (Den) 68 67,

136 J Donaldson (Wal) 68 68, M Ilonen  (Fin) 70 66, S Lowry  (Irl) 70 66, G McDowell  (Nir) 67 69,

137 R Fisher (Eng) 70 67, E Els (RSA) 69 68, R Palmer (USA) 70 67, D Fichardt (RSA) 69 68, J Rose (Eng) 72 65,

138 M Hoey  (Nir) 70 68, R Sterne  (RSA) 68 70, O Zheng (Chn) 72 66, G Coetzee (RSA) 71 67, F Zanotti (Par) 70 68, R Ramsay  (Sco) 70 68,

139 R Karlsson (Swe) 69 70, S Dong (Chn) 70 69,

140 M Kieffer (Ger) 71 69, H Mu (Chn) 69 71, O Fisher  (Eng) 71 69, L Hao-Tong (Chn) 69 71, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 74 66, T Hatton (Eng) 73 67, T Olesen (Den) 70 70, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 72 68, T Aiken (RSA) 72 68, R Bland (Eng) 72 68, V Dubuisson  (Fra) 70 70,

141 E Pepperell (Eng) 72 69, K Seung-Hyuk (Kor) 70 71, D Willett  (Eng) 71 70, B Wiesberger  (Aut) 72 69, J Olazábal (Esp) 71 70, J Luiten (Ned) 72 69, O Wilson (Eng) 68 73, T Jaidee (Tha) 71 70, S Gallacher (Sco) 72 69, E Molinari  (Ita) 70 71,

142 H Otto (RSA) 71 71, L Wen-Chong (Chn) 72 70, H Shao-Cai (Chn) 71 71, K Broberg (Swe) 73 69, M Warren (Sco) 70 72,

143 M Madsen  (Den) 69 74, F Molinari (Ita) 69 74, C Yi (Chn) 72 71, I Poulter (Eng) 74 69,

144 H Ze-Yu (Chn) 73 71, M Baldwin (Eng) 73 71, K Stadler (USA) 73 71, P McGinley (Irl) 71 73, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 74,

145 G Storm  (Eng) 75 70, D Howell (Eng) 74 71, W Ashun (Chn) 75 70, M Carlsson  (Swe) 73 72, B Koepka  (USA) 73 72, C Kirk (USA) 73 72,

146 M Foster (Eng) 75 71,

147 M Jiménez (Esp) 77 70, S Dyson  (Eng) 75 72,

148 P Larrazábal (Esp) 76 72, A Sullivan (Eng) 76 72, D Horsey (Eng) 73 75,

149 A Cañizares  (Esp) 78 71, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 78 71,

151 D Chen Xiao (Chn) 78 73, L Yan-Wei (Chn) 75 76,

152 M Manassero (Ita) 74 78,

153 C Zi-Hao (Chn) 77 76,

159 W Tianyi (Chn) 76 83.