It was a case of third time lucky for Open champ Shane Lowry who has ended a decade-long Hong Kong Open hoodoo.

Lowry birdied two of his closing three holes in a second round four-under par 66 and be trailing just four shots adrift of Aussie Wade Ormsby (67) and winner of the event in 2017.

Lowry shares seventh place and booked himself a weekend tee time in suburban Fanling after missing the cut both in 2009 and 2010.

“I am very pleased to be honest,” said Lowry.

HONG KONG-Shane Lowry of Irealand pictured on Friday January 10, 2020 during round two of the Hong Kong Open at the Fanling Golf Club, Fanling, Hong Kong, the Asian Tour USD$ 1 million event is the season opener. Picture by Paul Lakatos / Asian Tour.

“It’s my first tournament in a while and you don’t really know how you are going to play. You are out there on a tricky golf course and I played two really nice rounds.

“I didn’t really hole much for five-under after two rounds so I am happy where I am, I am right where I want to be and I am looking forward to the weekend.”

The Clara golfer, and competing for a first time since late November, is chasing a repeat of his first event a year ago when he led start-to-finish to capture the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship he will defend next week in te UAE capital.

“I said if I got to double figures under par, I’d be happy enough,” Lowry added.

“I think as the weekend goes on, the golf course is going to dry out and it’s going to start playing trickier.

“Wade is nine under now so if he has a really good weekend, he might run away but hopefully I can shoot two decent scores and give myself a chance .”