Rafa Cabrera Bello turned in 32 to take the lead early on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Spanish Ryder Cup star is one of the European Tour's most consistent performers but is without a win since claiming the Omega Dubai Desert Classic here in the UAE in 2012.
He set about trying to rectify that on Thursday with an opening 67 and then made four birdies from the tenth on Friday morning to move to nine under, one clear of overnight leader Henrik Stenson who was among the afternoon starters.
Gains on the 12th, 13th - where he yesterday made a double-bogey - 15th and 16th saw him make the big move of the morning with Jeunghun Wang then in third at seven under.
The reigning Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year birdied the tenth, 12th and 14th - just as he had on Thursday - to sit two shots off the lead after seven holes.
Pablo Larrazábal, the 2014 champion at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, was then six under after seven holes with birdies at the 12th and 15th, alongside English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Slattery.
Slattery started from the tenth and made two birdies in his first four holes while Fleetwood had a single birdie on the second in his first five.
English trio Ian Poulter, Andy Sullivan and Lee Westwood were then all at five under around the turn, with American David Lipsky at the same mark after five holes.
