Ian Poulter just two shots off the lead at halfway stage of Puerto Rico Open

Ian Poulter defied blustery conditions to fire a superb 66 as he stormed into contention at the halfway stage of the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

Poulter was seven shots off the pace overnight following a disappointing opening 71, but he recorded the low round of the second day at Coco Beach to get within two of 36-hole leader Rafael Campos.

The Englishman returned a remarkable card which featured birdies at each of the first three holes, 12 straight pars, and another three consecutive birdies to finish an excellent day's work.

"It was a par sandwich with three birdies at the beginning and three birdies at the end," said Poulter afterwards. "I had to stay patient, but opening up with three birdies first thing this morning was nice. And to close with three birdies there was good and it kind of moves me up the board quite nicely.

"The yardage books nowadays are good enough, you don't need to be here for days and days and days trying to figure out the golf course," added Poulter, who is making his debut in the event. "It's right in front of you. It's windy, you can see the bunkers, you can see the hazards."

Poulter opted not to take a week off having slipped to 67th in the world rankings, ruling him out of this week's WGC-Dell Match Play in Texas - an event he won in 2010.

But he will have high hopes of claiming his first victory worldwide since the 2012 WGC-HSBC Champions, but his fellow Englishman Luke Donald has ground to make up after he carded 17 pars and a bogey in a 73 which left him at two under for the tournament.

Home favourite Campos could not match the heights of his stunning, opening 64, but a workmanlike 71 which included three birdies and two bogeys kept him at the top of the leaderboard.

The 27-year-old, who holds a one-stroke advantage over George McNeill heading into the weekend, is the first player from Puerto Rico to lead a PGA Tour event since legendary showman Chi Chi Rodriguez won his eighth and final title of his career at the Tallahassee Open in 1979.

Campos said: "It's great just having so much support, so many people coming out here and following us, and it really does feel great to be in this position. Ironically enough, I really feel very relaxed out there. Not really thinking of my swing, I'm not really thinking of the problems out there, I'm actually enjoying it."

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McNeill emulated Poulter as he birdied the opening three holes to get to 10 under, but the American failed to pick up any further shots and bogeyed the 12th and 16th to card a 71.

Poulter is one of seven players in a tie for third place on seven under including defending champion Alex Cejka, who finally won his maiden PGA Tour title in his 287th start last year.

Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman is four shots off the lead after rounds of 69 and 70, while two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen is alongside Donald on two under par.