A FLAWLESS second round 64 shot Dorset's Gary Emerson to the top of the Madrid Open leaderboard.

Despite being overtaken by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin in the afternoon, Emerson is well-placed in joint second, with Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke, to mount a serious challenge for his second Tour title.

The 41-year-old Broadstone touring professional carded seven birdies and no dropped shots to add to his opening 67 for an 11-under-par 131 total - three behind Jacquelin at the halfway stage.

Emerson's first target is to earn enough money to move up the 13 places to qualify for the lucrative Volvo Mast-ers in Valderrama later this month.

Currently in 73rd place, he is already on course to beat his previous best Order of Merit finish of 78th in 2001.

But after finishing runner-up in the KLM Open in June, Emerson believes his Dutch experience will hold him good stead for this weekend's finale.

"Having been there before, I know what to expect," said Emerson. "I just have to keep doing what I've been doing well and see how it pans out.

"There's a lot of good players in contention, but it's just good to be back in the thick of it again."

Although first place would only equal his best pay day which he secured in Holland, it would propel the 2004 Russian Open champion into the top 50.

The key to Emerson's success so far in Madrid has been his putting.

"I've worked hard on that part of my game and it's good to see a few drop," admitted Emerson, who has taken just 26 and 25 putts respectively in the first two rounds at the Club de Campo.

Spaniard Ivo Giner, meanwhile, delighted the home crowd with an amazing second-round 60 to help repair the damage of an opening 75.