Victor Dubuisson took advantage of good scoring conditions to turn in 32 as the third round of the US PGA Championship belatedly got under way at Whistling Straits.
Round two had to be completed first thing on Saturday morning after storms had brought an early end to proceedings and Australian Matt Jones completed a 65 to move to 11 under and open up a two shot lead over countryman Jason Day.
Justin Rose parred his remaining hole to sit a further shot back with India's Anirban Lahiri also putting himself among the late starters as he followed his opening 70 with a 67.
But when third round play began, it was Dubuisson who showed what could be done on the rain-softened layout, posting an eagle and two birdies on a flawless front nine.
The Frenchman finished in a tie for seventh at Valhalla last year but has missed the three cuts at Major Championships this season and needed a second round 70 to finish right on the line at two over here.
The Ryder Cup star was in the third group out once round three got under way in calm and soft conditions and, after a par at the first, put his second on the par five second inside 15 feet and made an eagle.
His tee shot at the par three third was to within four feet to set up a birdie and he had another look at eagle on the fifth after taking an aggressive line over the water but had to make do with picking up a single shot.
He then parred the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth to sit on two under with later starters Rory McIlroy, Y E Yang, Henrik Stenson, Brooks Koepka and Luke Donald.
Mikko Ilonen also finished in a tie for seventh at this tournament last year and he was three under through six holes to join that group alongside Tyrrell Hatton who was three under having played seven.
The leaders will go out at 1506 local time and Jones is looking forward to teeing up with Day as he leads in a Major for the first time.
"I haven't played with Jason for years," he said. "I can't tell you when I last played with him. But I seen a lot of him on TV lately.
"He's playing pretty well so it will be good for me to just sit back and watch him play and we'll just have some fun together and try to keep each other relaxed."
He added: "It's amazing to be in the lead at a Major. I've been in the lead on a Tour event, but a Major's a different story.
"But I'm going to have fun with it, and I'm pretty relaxed on the golf course.
"I'm sure I'll be nervous on the first tee, but playing with Jason will be great and (Day's caddie) Col (Swatton). I always have fun with Col, so that will be a fun time."
Rose already has a Major to his name having won the 2013 US Open and was happy with his position in Wisconsin.
"I'm in good position, obviously," he said. "In any Major Championship that's great after two days.
"I'm within touching distance going into the weekend which is exactly where you want to be."
Yet to tee off, Masters Tournament and US Open champion Jordan Spieth was lurking in the group at six under with George Coetzee, after a 74-65 start, and first round leader Dustin Johnson a further shot back.
Hiroshi Iwata was in the group at four under after his Major record equalling second round 63 alongside German duo Martin Kaymer and Marcel Siem and South African Branden Grace.
Emiliano Grillo made the cut in his debut Major courtesy of a 70-73 start and sat alongside James Morrison on one under.
