EDDIE Pepperell carded a second successive 69 to stay in touch with the leaders at the Maybank Championship.

The Abingdon golfer birdied five of his first ten holes, but two late bogeys forced him to settle for another three-under-par round in Malaysia.

It leaves Pepperell tied for 28th on six under par, five shots behind leader Phachara Khongwatmai.

Birdies at the second, fifth, sixth and seven holes saw the Frilford Heath member complete the front nine with a four-under-par 32.

It got even better for Pepperell when he picked up another shot at the par-four tenth.

But the 27-year-old dropped back after bogeying the 14th and 16th holes.