You wouldn't expect that a beaming sun on a cloudless day would appeal to an Englishman, but Ian Poulter seemed right at home in the conditions, producing a near-flawless round to take a two-stroke lead into the third round of the Australian Masters at Victoria Golf Club.

Consecutive birdies on the final two holes restored the outright lead Poulter had earned on day one.

After his final hole, Poulter admitted to having been physically sick before the round started. "I must have had something bad to eat last night, unfortunately," he said. "I felt a bit weak out there."

No doubt five hours in the unrelenting sun did him no favours.

And yet despite battling the illness, and notwithstanding his round of just one bogey, Poulter wasn't impressed with his game. "I hit it terrible. I got myself out of position a number of times," was his assessment.

Imagine how he'll do if he pulls up well tomorrow.

Poulter holds a two-shot lead over unheralded 22-year-old Matthew Giles. The New South Welshman had earlier entered the clubhouse with the lead after a three-under round of 68. Instead of keeping tabs on the chasing pack, though, he quipped that he would be at the cinema watching Mission Impossible 4. "You have to have an off switch," he told us, with wisdom far beyond his years.

Yesterday's tearaway leader Ashley Hall stayed in contention, finishing one stroke behind Giles, with a pack of six players a further shot behind. In that pack is local hopeful Geoff Ogilvy, who rocketed up the leader board with a killer stretch of -5 over seven holes. His round of 66 was the best of the day, equalled only by Brent McCullough.

But the highlight reel was stolen by Queenslander Steve Bowditch, who nailed consecutive eagles on the first and second holes - both of which are par fours.

Earlier, golf's current poster-boy, 18-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, produced a stirring fightback to make the cut. Faced with an uphill battle after carding 76 in the first round, Manassero shot four birdies on the front nine to make it through to the third round at one over par.

On a sour note, Stuart Appleby was forced to withdraw from the tournament early this morning, after succumbing to a back injury. It was a sad and unsatisfying exit for the defending champion.

So the question now remains: with only two players within three shots of the leader, who can catch the bolter Poulter?

Fellow Englishman and world number one Luke Donald seems, at least on paper, to be the likeliest candidate. Although he shot just one under par this round and lies six strokes off the pace, Donald's legendary ability to string birdies together seems to only increase when he's under pressure.

Two-time Australian Masters winner Peter Lonard is, at his best, also a realistic challenger. He loomed large for a time this afternoon, and shared the lead for a few holes, before three consecutive bogeys took the wind out of his sails.

Then, of course, there's Giles. His pressure golf is as yet untested on the big stage, so he remains a wildcard. A Giles win would be remarkable considering the youngster had never played the course before this week.

However, the sentimental favourite must be Ogilvy. Victoria Golf Club being his home turf, the sheer emotion of a home win would make that result truly memorable.