A REPEAT – in more ways than one – kept alive the hopes of tournament success for York’s Simon Dyson, writes Tony Kelly.

A second successive three-under-par 69 at the Emirates Golf Club ensured a promising position at the midway point of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

Just like in his first round, Dyson bested the second and third holes with birdies only to quickly surrender that double inroad by ceding a shot apiece on holes five and seven.Again, as he had on the first day, Dyson bagged another birdie on the tenth hole before racking up a bank of pars and a closing flourish.

The world number 174 birdied the par-four 17th and then picked up a shot on the par-five final hole, matching his first round feat.

The brace of 69s put Dyson in the top 20 going into today’s start of the business half of the $2½ million tournament which is still led by Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

He is 11-under after a 65 was followed by yesterday’s round of 70 to lead the field by one shot.