Thomas Detry dug into the memories of this summer's Olympic Games to share the halfway lead at the 2024 FedEx Open de France.
The Belgian shot a second-round 63, as he did in August's showpiece competition also staged at Le Golf National, to reach nine under par alongside Jesper Svensson and Dan Bradbury.
Five players were one shot behind, including Thorbjørn Olesen who had looked set to lead the way with two holes to go.
Home favourite Grégory Havret, in his last event before retirement, produced a stirring back nine to extend his career into the weekend. At the other end of the experience scale, 16-year-old amateur Lev Grinberg impressively made the cut at five under.
Detry produced the round of the week so far, starting with a five-foot putt at the second for the first of three birdies in his first five holes.
Another four in five holes from the ninth took him into contention before the 17th brought his eighth birdie - and a sixth three on the back nine of his card.
"Got off to a great start," he said. "It's the type of golf course where it gives you a couple of opportunities in the first couple of holes and if you drive it well, which I did all week so far, you can go low.
"I've been over here so many times. I also shot 63 on Friday at the Olympics. I'm close to home here, lots of friends coming over the weekend, fans, family is not far away as well. I just love it."
Svensson shot 66 in round one and was quickly back into rhythm with two birdies in his first five holes after starting on the back nine on Friday.
Three more came on the front nine before a closing bogey, his second of the day, brought him back to the field.
The Swede said of his round: "A bit more shaky but very happy to still be under par today.
"Yesterday everything felt great with the game and today, wasn't really there. But still managed to make some really good shots and a few good putts."
Bradbury made a late run to join the leaders. After a front nine containing two birdies and a bogey, the Englishman followed an eagle at the 14th with back-to-back birdies for a 66.
"Probably could have been a couple better today but overall just very happy," he said.
"You can't sleep on any holes. There's obviously lots of chances out here, you've seen that with the scoring, but there's lots of chances to mess up. You hit one bad shot and it's costing you two out here with all the water and out-of-bounds. It's a proper golf course."
Olesen almost holed out for eagle at the first, settling for birdie from six inches and adding another from five feet at the fourth.
A 35-foot left-to-right putt at the 11th and back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th saw him to 11 under - but the 17th brought him a first bogey since his sixth hole on Thursday and he found water at the last, leading to a double bogey and at 69 which left him eight under.
He was alongside Sweden's Simon Forsström, who shot 64 with six birdies and an eagle - at the par-five ninth, four shots better than his seven there on Thursday - and only one bogey.
Rasmus Højgaard and Paul Waring each shot 66 to reach eight under and the quintet was completed by Fabrizio Zanotti after a 68.
Justin Rose and Matthew Jordan were seven under while Grinberg, one off the first-round lead after a 66, shot a level-par 71.
Havret, playing with good friends Nicolas Colsaerts and Marcel Siem for what could have been his final round, instead produced six birdies to only one bogey for a 66, making the cut right on the line at one under after an opening 75.
