France's Gregory Havret was the pacesetter during the second round of the Volvo China Open.
The US Open Championship runner-up was six under par for his round with two to play to sit 12 under par at Luxehills International Country Club.
That was one ahead of Robert-Jan Derksen and Sergio Garcia - the clubhouse leaders - as well as Fredrik Andersson Hed, Jeppe Huldahl, Danny Lee, Nicolas Colsaerts and Keith Horne.
On a congested leaderboard the top 19 players were separated by just three shots.
After an opening 66, Havret - who narrowly missed out to Graeme McDowell at Pebble Beach last year - kick-started his round with a birdie on the 11th, his second hole of the day.
Four birdies in succession around the turn moved him into contention while there were further gains at the third and seventh to give him the lad - his only dropped shot so far coming at the sixth.
Spain's Garcia has been showing some encouraging signs in recent weeks as he continues his golfing comeback after an extended break.
The Ryder Cup star reached the halfway stage without a bogey as he followed his opening 66 with a blemish-free 67, four of his five birdies coming on the front nine.
Derksen's 66 was more of a mixed bag, with no fewer than eight birdies and two bogeys.
