Rafael Cabrera-Bello dropped two shots in the last three holes of his second round but still held the clubhouse lead at the Avantha Masters.
The Spaniard was drawn amongst the afternoon starters for the first round, and after a three-and-a-half hour fog delay on Thursday morning his first task on day two was to complete his opening round.
Having signed for a five under 67, the 26 year old was one behind Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen in a five-way tie for second.
But with Derksen among the late starters in the second round, former Austrian Golf Open winner Cabrera-Bello - he shot a record-equalling 60 in the final round there to snatch the title from Benn Barham - was able to establish a one shot lead with a three under par 69.
That took him to eight under for the week - although it should perhaps have been better.
Starting at the tenth, he birdied his opening hole before holing a 30 footer at the next.
He recorded consecutive birdies again at the 15th and 16th to turn in a four under par 32 and gained another shot at the sixth, before late bogeys at the seventh and ninth.
“Eight under after two rounds and leading in the clubhouse so I have to be happy,” said Cabrera-Bello.
“I started really well, hit some great shots and made some great putts.
“Then on the back nine I struggled a little bit off the tee and didn’t mange to hit as many fairways as I would have liked which then meant that I didn’t create as many opportunities.
"I went for it at the last and it didn’t happen and I ended up in the water - I almost saved the par but it just missed. But overall nothing went particularly wrong so I can’t have too many complaints.”
Chances of a home winner at DLF Golf and Country Club received a boost as Shiv Kapur moved into a share of second on seven under, along with Dane Mark F Haastrup, Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and England’s Robert Coles.
The 28 year old, who is still seeking a first European Tour title, revealed a quick session with coach Jamie Gough between rounds had made all the difference as he added a 65 to his opening 72.
“The 30-minute break between the finish of the second round and the start of the second round did a world of good,” said Kapur.
“I spent some time with my coach and we found something, that helped me through the second round.
“In the morning I just could not find the fairway, but somehow the wedges and putter saved my day. I could easily have been three or four over, but even par was nice.
“After that small session with Jamie, things came together. I hit a lot of good shots and good putts, which came close or shaved the hole. There were not putts that didn’t have a chance. I could easily have been ten or 11 under, but I suppose that can be everyone if all putts fall.”
Out on the course, Derksen parred his opening hole to remain six under - with the second round unlikely to be completed before darkness.
