Chile’s Felipe Aguilar birdied the last three holes of his second round to join Scott Hend in a share of The Championship at Laguna National clubhouse lead.
Aguilar carded a second round 67 in Singapore, with seven gains and two bogeys leaving him 12 under for the week.
The 39 year old, whose only previous European Tour victory came in neighbouring Indonesia six years ago, was joined on that mark by Australian Hend.
“I finished off with three birdies but it was a really cold start today,” said Aguilar.
“It took me a while to get the rhythm going and I had a couple of birdies and couple of bogeys.
“Overall though it was a very good round and the last couple of holes I hit it stiff. I hit it close on 16, made a very good putt on the 17th and then hit the pin on the 18th hole, so I’m very happy.
“When you chase the lead you have nothing to lose. We’ll see what happens this afternoon.
“Tomorrow the tournament starts on moving day. You need to stay cool and patient here.
“I’m really happy so far; if someone had offered me this score before the start of play I would have taken it.
“I don’t have to go that deep on the weekend because I think the course will play a bit different and the fact that everyone wants to win will hurt some people. About eight or ten under will probably do it over the weekend.”
An opening 67 had left Hend four shots off the first round pace, but with overnight leader Panuphol Pittayarat not out until the afternoon the 40 year old took advantage of more perfect scoring conditions.
Starting on the back nine, Hend carded three birdies in his first four holes and, after a bogey at the 14th, grabbed another gain at the 15th to turn in 33.
Back-to-back birdies at the first and second were then followed, before Hend, who won three times en route to finishing second on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2013, picked up shots at the fifth and seventh.
The pair were one ahead of Dane Anders Hansen, who followed an opening 67 with a 66, with India’s Rahil Gangjee and Thai pair Arnond Vongvanu and Pittayarat a shot further back.
