DAVID Howell enjoyed a better day at the BMW Masters in Shanghai today as he continued his pursuit of a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, in Dubai, later this month.

The Swindon ace, right on the bubble at 51st on the money list with the top 60 reaching the Tour's finale, carded a one under par round of 71 to lie tied 60th at the midway point of the event at Lake Malaren Golf Club in China.

While Belgium's 2012 Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts set the pace on 14 under par, after firing a 64, Howell started his second 18 holes with a birdie on the tenth, his opener.

A further birdie on the long 15th got him to the tun in 34 and he was three under for the day after another birdie at the second before a messy end to his day, with bogeys at the fifth, sixth and eight, sandwiching a birdie at the seventh.

Overnight leader Alexander Levy was one behind Colsaerts13 under after adding a 66 to his opening 65.

Fellow Frenchman and hotel room-mate Romain Wattel was two shots further back on 11 under, with Marcel Siem, Branden Grace and Emiliano Grillo all 10 under and Thomas Bjorn alone in seventh another shot adrift.

Justin Rose was two shots behind Bjorn as his own comeback continued, the world number six recovering from being four over after four holes to card an opening 72 and adding a superb 65 on Friday.