Martin Laird put an end to a run of three missed cuts and is well in contention after two rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina.

Laird showed his fondness for the course located just 45 minutes from his summer residence to add a two-under-par 70 to his opening 69 on the Quail Hollow course.

It put the Scot in a clubhouse share of fifth place and only four strokes behind American Martin Flores (68) who was leading the $6.9m event on nine under par. Reigning US Open champion Justin Rose grabbed an eagle and four birdies in a score of 67 to make it to eight under par as he looks to win for a first time since his Merion success last year.

Laird decorated his round with an eagle for the second day running, and on this occasion holed a 20-yard chip shot at the par-five fifth hole, a day after eagling the par-five 15th.

"I had hit my best shot all day to 10 feet for birdie at the fourth which is the hardest hole on the course, so that gave me a nice feeling going down the fifth," he said. "I just love playing this golf course as it's only about 45 minutes from home and, while I don't come down and play it very often, I just love it when I am here.

"That's why we moved to the Charlotte area. I just love the region and also to be able to stay at home for the week makes it a little more relaxing, and it's nice to wake up in your own house and drive to the golf course as opposed to staying in hotel. So there is a definite home feeling for me."

A four-under round of 68, meanwhile, was enough for Panuphol Pittayarat to retain a one-stroke lead after two rounds of The Championship at Laguna National. The Thai player could not match his heroics of the opening day, but kept his nose in front of the chasing pack, David Lipsky, Felipe Aguilar and Scott Hend, all of whom lie poised a shot back on 12 under.

Scott Jamieson slipped from a share of second to a five-way tie for 10th after following his first day 64 with a 71. The 30-year-old Glaswegian had a mixed round including five bogeys, four birdies and a redemptive eagle at the par-five 15th.