Miguel Ángel Jiménez continued his recent brilliant form as he turned in 33 to open up a two-shot lead on the second morning of the Shot Clock Masters.
The 54 year old won his first Seniors Major Championship last month but showed he could still mix it with the young guns just two weeks later as he carded a closing 63 at the Rolex Series Italian Open.
The Spaniard then arrived at Diamond Country Club feeling enthusiastic not only about his form but about the innovative new format that sees every shot played on the clock, with penalties handed out if a player goes over their allotted time.
Not one penalty was dished out on day one and Jiménez was in one of the five groups that got round in less than four hours as he posted a 67 to sit a shot off the lead.
He made four further birdies on Friday morning to get to eight under and sit two shots ahead of overnight leader Oscar Lengden, who was due out in the afternoon.
Dane Jeppe Pape Huldahl was then out on course at five under, with Finn Tapio Pulkkanen among the later starters.
Starting on the tenth, Jiménez dropped a shot on the 13th but then reeled off a hat-trick of birdies before adding another on the par three last.
Huldahl had a single birdie on the second in his opening three holes.
There was then a group of 12 players at four under, with Italian Lorenzo Gagli making the biggest move at three under for the day through 11 holes.
