Mike Lorenzo-Vera revealed a change of tactics at Verdura Golf Club helped him to the lowest round of the week so far on day two of the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open.
Many of the holes on the composite layout are on the coast, meaning almost links-like conditions are in play in the high winds and - after an opening 71 - Lorenzo-Vera took a change of tack on Friday that helped him to a 64.
The Frenchman teed the ball up very low and a low trajectory followed, allowing him to hit clever approaches and make eight birdies to just a single bogey and sit right in contention heading into the weekend.
After a career-best season in 2017, Lorenzo-Vera already has a top ten this campaign to go with his appearance in the final of last week's GolfSixes as he looks for a first European Tour title at the 152nd attempt.
"That was really quality," he said. "I changed a few things right before going out on the course because yesterday my ball was too spinny in the air with my irons. So I took all the weight out of my irons and thought 'lets give it a go like that' and it worked. I managed to hit some really great iron shots, and with the driver as well.
"I was kind of scared with the wind off the left and wind in, so I thought, 'I'll just put the ball on the ground' and then sent absolute darts, so that was cool. I managed to hole a few putts and there you go.
"It's not really the score that makes me confident. I was struggling to find some solution in certain winds, like left-to-right or into the wind off the tee. This ball on the deck is really helping me to keep it low and through the wind, so this gives me confidence more than anything else."
Ryan Evans was a shot ahead of Lorenzo-Vera after signing for a 69 to get to eight under alongside fellow Englishman Steven Brown.
The 31 year old has made nine of ten cuts since regaining his playing privileges via the Challenge Tour last season but has just one top 20 so far in 2018 and was happy to be contending rather than just competing going into the weekend.
"It's nice to see my name at the top of the leaderboard because it's a bit of reassurance that you're obviously doing something right," he said. "You're obviously playing well so I do like to look at the leaderboards and see where I'm sitting and it's nice to see my name up there.
"We're all out here trying to win golf tournaments. I'm not going to put any pressure on myself to win one. If I win one, great, if I don't, there's always a chance next week. I'm just going to go out at the weekend and try and play the same as I have done the first couple of days and see where it leaves me."
