Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey defied windy conditions to grab three early birdies and move into a tie for third place at the Nordea Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm.
The former British Amateur Champion, who had his maiden European Tour success in Portugal last year, picked up shots on the third, fifth and seventh.
At seven under par Hoey was two behind Korean K J Choi, who like nearest challenger Richard Johnson set off with a par five.
Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen, trying to become the first player to follow victory in that event with another on The European Tour seven days later, remained seven under and third after two opening pars.
Making the biggest charge from the pack was Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who with an outward 33 and then a fourth birdie of the day on the tenth was up from 27th to joint sixth on five under.
There was a two-shot swing between the two front-runners on the short fourth. Choi three-putted and slipped to eight under and with a five foot birdie putt Johnson, also over from America for The Open Championship and this event, went in front.
By then Hoey was only two back and level with Oosthuizen thanks to a tee shot to four feet on the 208 yard seventh.
