Dubliner David Carey took a giant step towards winning promotion to the Challenge Tour when he fired a bogey-free 65 to move to within a shot of the lead at halfway in the Alps Tour Grand Final in Italy.

The Castleknock professional (23) sits alone in fourth place on six-under-par in Lazio.

That means and within striking distance of clinching a win that would guarantee him one of five Challenge Tour cards.

As things stand, he's projected to rise to seventh in the standings with two rounds still to play but would effectively lie sixth as Frederic Lacroix has already won three times to secure automatic promotion to the Challenge Tour.

With 11,000 points for the winner and the runner-up claiming 7,000 points, Carey will be chasing a second win this season.

He did not drop a shot as he followed an opening 73 by making seven birdies in a best of the day 65 at Golf Nazionale.

The former Irish Boys international opened with an 11-under 57 en route to his maiden win at the Cervino Open in early September and he has a trio of leaders in his sights as the action moves to Terre dei Consoli Golf Club for the last two rounds.

Order of Merit leader Edoardo Lipparelli shot 70 and shares the halfway lead on seven-under with Spanish rookies, Angel Hidalgo Portillo and Jordi Garcia Del Moral.

Naas’ Jonathan Yates, ranked 17th in the Order of Merit, is tied for 18th on level par after rounds of 70 and 73.

Scores 

Projected Order of Merit standings after 36 holes

1. Edoardo Lipparelli 39,283 pt

2. Enrico Di Nitto 29,603

3. Frédéric Lacroix 29,515

4. Timon Baltl 21,885

5. Federico Maccario 18.579 6.

6. Xavier Poncelet 17,840

7. David Carey 16,175 8.

8. Lars van Meijel 15,685 9.

9. Luca Cianchetti 15,291 10.

10. Jordi Garcia del Moral 15,201