Scott Jamieson's superb first season on The European Tour hit a new high at Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness.
The 27 year old from Glasgow went to the turn in just 30 shots and at that moment led the Barclays Scottish Open by three shots on 11 under par.
With four top six finishes already and a closing round of 64 in Munich only two weeks ago Jamieson's confidence shone through when he hit back from an opening bogey with five birdies in a row and then a six foot eagle putt at the 607 yard 18th.
The Challenge Tour graduate had some big names chasing him, though.
Last year's US Open Champion Graeme McDowell - also the winner of this title in 2008 -eagled the 12th and with two early birdies as well he had charged from joint 30th overnight into second place on eight under.
Twice winner Ernie Els, meanwhile, birdied three of his first six holes to reach seven under.
It put him into a tie for third with overnight pacesetters Lee Westwood and Mark Tullo - both among the afternoon starters in the second round - Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and another Scot, Peter Whiteford.
Former Masters Tournament and US Open Champion Angel Cabrera also had five birdies in a row like Jamieson - in his case from the 12th rather than the 11th - to be six under and both Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington were only one further back.
Phil Mickelson, though, was in a battle to survive the halfway cut. He probably needed to improve five or even six shots on his opening 73, but after birdies at the 11th and 12th he bogeyed two holes later to be level par.
McDowell and Cabrera matched Jamieson's back nine 30 when they both birdied the 18th, but they were four and six behind respectively when the leader sank a 30 foot putt at the 554 yard second for his second eagle in three holes.
He was eight under for the day with seven to play, but on the par 72 lay-out still needed to pick up five more shots in seven holes for Europe's first-ever 59.
