The Australian had the equal best score of the day on Friday, his five-under 67 in the second round featuring five birdies and not a single missed shot.

His highlight was a 54-foot putt for birdie on the 12th hole.

Smylie is currently the top Aussie in the Race to Dubai, the DP World Tour's order of merit, sitting in 22nd place.

He hasn't really done that much on the tour since winning the Australian PGA and finishing fifth in the Australian Open at the start of the season, but seems to be getting all shook up now, having finished tied for sixth in last week's Danish Championship.

Smylie's second-round 67 on Friday followed his opening one-under 71, leaving him at six under for the tournament, just three shots off the lead.

Marcel Siem was the man to catch at the halfway stage at The Belfry, but he had major winner and Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick breathing down his neck.

German Siem began the day in a four-way tie at the top but soon led on his own after a lightning-quick start that featured an eagle and three birdies in his first eight holes.

Siem eventually signed for a second-round 69 to move to nine under, one clear of Englishman Fitzpatrick heading into the weekend.

But after dropping shots at the 18th, second and sixth holes, six-time DP World Tour winner Siem feels he could have gone even lower.

"It was a great start. My ego took over a little on the back nine because I hit really good shots,'' he said.

Fitzpatrick saved his best until last as he holed his 22-foot birdie effort on the 18th to delight his home crowd and reach eight under.

The 30-year-old made a total of five birdies and two bogeys in an impressive round of 69 that will surely have caught the eye of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Fellow Englishman Matt Wallace was in a tie for third on seven under, alongside Kazuma Kobori and Brandon Stone.

Rasmus Hojgaard stayed on course to secure a last-gasp spot in Europe's Ryder Cup team after reaching the halfway point in a tie for 14th place.

The Danish golfer shot a one-under 71 in the second round and was on four under overall, five strokes off the lead.

Hojgaard needs to finish in a two-way tie for 29th or better at The Belfry to earn enough points to overtake Shane Lowry, who is clinging on to sixth place in the list of automatic qualifiers in Europe's team.

The top six get into the European team automatically. Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton are already guaranteed to be at next month's matches at Bethpage Black.