FOUR birdies in the last seven holes has fired Simon Dyson into the leading group after the second round of the Algarve Portuguese Open.

After carding a three under par 69 in the opening round, Malton professional Dyson's challenge looked to be fading when he dropped a shot on the front nine of the second round.

But a superb back nine, including successive birdies at the 12th, 13th, and 14th, gave him another round of 69 to leave him in joint fourth place, four shots adrift of leader Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Harrington leads by two from Scotsman Alastair Forsyth and England's David Gilford.

Spain's Ignacio Garrido and England's David Howell were a further shot adrift.

Dyson, a member of the Malton and Norton Club, is sharing fourth place with with a two-round score of 138.

Updated: 10:51 Saturday, April 28, 2001