A pair of 64s edged England’s Andy Sullivan closer to achieving a 2015 European Tour first on day two of the Portugal Masters on the Oceanico Victoria course at Vilamoura.

After sharing the overnight first round lead the 28-year double Tour winner this year grabbed seven birdies to move to 14-under par.

Sullivan is the reigning South African Open and Joburg Open champion and would become the first to win three events this year should he succeed on the sun-splashed Algarve.

England’s Andy Sullivan edging closer to a European Tour first this year and the first three-time winner. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Sullivan’s tally is just four shots shy of the opening 36-hole low set a year ago by French-born winner Alex Levy but on a personal note the Englishman’s effort is also his lowest 36-hole opening tally since making his European Tour debut in 2011.

“It’s always nice to back up a good score with another low one,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s quite tough to go out and back it up but I played in much the same vein as I did yesterday.  I felt really confident out there, tapped the flags again and putted with the heart again.

“So it was difficult not to shoot a good score the way I was hitting it and also putting as well I have been.”

And if Sullivan were to now go on and capture a third Tour title this year he would the first to do so this season, and victory would also send the current World No. 66 inside the top-50 on the World Rankings.

“A win is a win in my eyes and I’m not going to be bothered about that,” he insisted.

“Like I said, I would really enjoy to get out there as I’m playing some good golf, so I’d love to get back out there and test myself again.”

Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood also posted a 64 to just five shots behind Sullivan.