IAN Poulter backed Nick Dougherty for an "awesome" next couple of years as the Blackburn golfer once again showed his class at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Shaw Hill professional Dougherty has spent more time on top of the leaderboards than any other player on the European Tour this season - and he was back there again yesterday.

The 25-year-old moved into a tie for first place at the German event during the second round before he was eventually overtaken by Sweden's Peter Hanson.

A terrific performance in the US Open, where he led after the first round and eventually finished in joint seventh, offered significant proof of Dougherty's ability on the world stage.

He is still to win in 2007, but he has held at least a share of top spot six times in 14 previous starts this year.

While he goes about looking to add to his one and only European Tour title - the 2005 Singapore Masters - Dougherty has earned stunning praise from fellow Englishman Poulter.

The former Ryder Cup star was impressed with Dougherty's showing at the US Open last week and is now predicting big things for the ex-QEGS student.

"He's played a lot of golf this year and what he did last week was unbelievable," said Poulter.

"He's a good golfer. He works hard on his game and I think he's one that's going to turn a leaf and play some awesome golf in the next couple of years."

Dougherty followed up his first round of 68 at the Golfclub München Eichenried with another impressive round of 68, to sit behind the leader on eight-under-par.

He got off to the best possible start, with a birdie at the par-four 431-yard opening hole.

Dougherty followed up with more birdies on the sixth and eighth to shoot 33 on the outward nine.

Another birdie on the 10th took him to the top of the leaderboard, until he suffered his only blemish of the day, a bogey at the 14th.

But he finished his round in style, with a birdie down the last to leave him perfectly placed heading into the weekend.

Hanson, who finished tied for 30th at the US Open, shot a superb 66 to go to 10-under-par at the halfway stage.

England's Paul Casey is also in with a chance, on six-under-par.