Ryan Evans turned in 34 to open up a two-shot lead early on day two of the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open.
The 2015 Qualifying School and 2017 Challenge Tour graduate has been a picture of consistency this season, making nine of his ten cuts, but he has really found his form at Verdura Golf Club.
The Englishman carded a 65 in tough, windy conditions on Thursday afternoon to share the lead, and four birdies and two bogeys in nine holes moved him to eight under in round two.
That was two clear of countryman Steven Brown, who had completed 11 holes, and Dane Lucas Bjerregaard who was yet to tee off.
Swede Joakim Lagergren was then at five under, a shot clear of a group of eight players.
Evans made a fast start with birdies on the second and third but gave the shots back on the fourth and sixth before making further gains on the seventh and ninth.
Fellow Challenge Tour graduate Brown was blemish-free in his first 11 holes, making birdies on the 12th, 14th and second.
Lagergren recently finished in a tie for third at the Trophée Hassan II and he was five under for the day through nine holes after birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 17th.
A birdie blitz from South African Jbe Kruger got him into the group four shots off the lead as he followed a gain on the first with four in a row from the ninth.
Brazilian Adilson da Silva, Frenchman Julien Guerrier and home favourite Francesco Laporta were the other players out on course at four under.
