Indian Jeev Milkha Singh remained the man to catch at the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland.
The 39 year old added a 70 to his career record-equalling opening round of 63 to reach nine under par.
Meanwhile in his first appearance since triumphing at Sandwich two weeks ago, Open Champion Darren Clarke was in danger of missing the cut.
About a closing bogey five, the Northern Irishman said: "I saw the cut was going to be one under and tried to make my chip, but was too aggressive with it.
"A weekend off is not what I wanted coming here. It will not do me any harm (he went down with the 'flu after his post-Open celebrations), but I'd much prefer to be playing.
"It's more mental fatigue than physical fatigue. I was trying, trying, trying and couldn't get anything going - I couldn't buy a putt."
Singh, whose day started with him hitting into the hazard by Lough Leane, said: "It was a bit more of a struggle, so I'm happy with one under.
"I didn't drive it that well and my putting was not as good, but it was still good enough."
On nine under, he led by two from England's Simon Wakefield, winner of The European Tour Qualifying School at the end of last year, Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin and Scot Richie Ramsay, who still had one to play.
Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, one under and one over respectively overnight, were among the later starters. McIlroy parred the first four holes and McDowell joined him with two opening birdies.
The leading Irish players were Damien McGrane and amateur Paul Cutler, who shot 67 in his bid to emulate Shane Lowry two years ago.
The misery goes on for England's Nick Dougherty, though. With a 74 for seven over, he missed his 19th successive cut going back to last November.
While McDowell remained one under after six McIlroy - leader by two after ten holes on Thursday - bogeyed the long seventh and at level par was one outside the cut mark.
Defending champion Ross Fisher, though, was up to five under after three birdies and two bogeys in his first seven.
