Richie Ramsay’s best-of-the-day 66 saw the Scot earn a share of a four-way tie for the halfway lead at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco.
Two-time European Tour winner Ramsay produced six birdies in a flawless round which saw him join Australia’s Richard Green, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Welshman Oliver Farr on six under par at Golf du Palais Royal.
Farr threatened to hold the outright lead when he reached seven under par late in the day, but a bogey at the 18th saw him sign for a 68.
Earlier Cabrera-Bello had mixed five birdies with two bogeys in a round of 69, one better than left-hander Green’s second round effort.
“The last few months have been frustrating,” said Ramsay, who had missed four cuts in five events to date in 2015 and had to withdraw because of injury when he made the weekend in Dubai.
“You just want to go out and play and I’ve had a few niggling injuries. I’ve just tried to stick to my guns and make sure I stretch and have a good practice routine. That builds up and slowly but surely it comes around and today was the day it happened. Hopefully it can stay for the weekend.”
Farr came through the Challenge Tour at the first attempt last year, but the 27 year old has finished no higher than 45th on The European Tour so far in his rookie campaign.
“It’s my first time here and it is absolutely fantastic to play in the King’s garden - it’s spectacular, that’s all I can say,” Farr said of the unique course which lies inside the grounds of the royal palace.
“This year has been great; each week there are new challenges. Dealing with everything is tricky but I’m enjoying it.
“Being in a share of the lead is great. It’s what we prepare for and practise for. We are only halfway through but hopefully I can be there on Sunday.”
Cabrera-Bello was wearing golf shores for the first time in six weeks after being forced to play in tennis shoes having broken his toe earlier in the year.
“I broke my pinkie toe on my right foot – not even a funny story, just banging it on a table,” said the two-time European Tour winner.
“I had to play in Puerto Rico in tennis shoes and could barely tie them. I then managed to get some really wide, and big shoes to wear in Tampa, and today’s the first day it has been ok to wear the proper golf shoes. I’m pleased it didn’t bother me too much.”
Green finished 15th in Thailand on his last appearance, and the 44 year old – who captured the last of his three European Tour titles in Portugal five years ago – was pleased to have continued his upward trajectory.
“I had a bit of break since Thailand and have not played a lot of golf,” he said. “I got myself ready for this week and to find myself six under after two rounds is great.
“I was pretty happy with the form in Thailand and the tournaments leading up to that. I’ve still got the same swing thoughts and mental thoughts, so it has carried on this week.”
Meanwhile in the race to secure a place at next month’s Masters Tournament, George Coetzee and Tommy Fleetwood remain in contention but Andy Sullivan, Alexander Levy, Marcel Siem and Ross Fisher all missed out.
Coetzee and Fleetwood need to win this week to book a trip to Augusta National in a fortnight's time and reached halfway just one and three shots off the lead respectively.
But the quartet of Sullivan, Levy, Siem and Fisher - who required similar results - all missed the halfway cut in Agadir, with 2013 champion Siem falling from joint sixth overnight with a second round of 79.
Coetzee is part of a five-strong group on five under as the top 32 players were separated by just four shots.
Fleetwood added a 71 to his opening 70 to lie three under, while Levy and Siem missed the cut by a shot and Sullivan's chances disappeared with a nine on the par four fourth in his 75. Fisher finished ten over after back-to-back rounds of 77.
