Callum Shinkwin set the early midway mark at the 2020 Celtic Classic following a second round 65 in Newport.
The 27-year-old birdied three of the final six holes on Thursday to get to three under par and he continued his momentum on the front nine at The Celtic Manor Resort during his second round.
Back to back birdies from the second catapulted him to five under but he dropped a shot at the fifth.
Shinkwin picked it back up with a gain at the next before rounding off his front nine with a birdie-birdie finish to join overnight leader Thomas Pieters at seven under par.
Playing partner Nacho Elvira birdied the fifth to kickstart his second round, adding to his 66 on Thursday to move within one of Pieters before Shinkwin accelerated to joint leadership.
The Spaniard joined the duo at seven under with his second gain at the 11th, but Shinkwin matched him shortly after to nudge one ahead thanks to a birdie on the same hole.
Shinkwin parred his way until the last, where he recorded his seventh birdie of the day to set the new clubhouse mark at nine under but he was joined by Hero Open champion Sam Horsfield, who had seven holes left to play.
The World Number 133 began Friday with a birdie-bogey-birdie start to get up to five under following his opening round 67.
Horsfield picked up another shot at the fifth and added another gain at the ninth to reach the turn at seven under, one adrift of his fellow Englishman.
But the 23-year-old did not have to wait long to sit alongside Shinkwin at the top of the leaderboard as he carded his fifth birdie of the second morning at the tenth.
Horsfield nudged into the solo lead with his third gain in a row but Shinkwin picked up a shot at the last to rejoin him at the summit.
Elvira was two shots behind the leaders after he dropped a shot at 15th before matching playing partner Shinkwin with a birdie at the last for a tie for third with Pieters, who was among the late starters.
Five players were one shot further adrift at six under, with American John Catlin, who heading down the last and home favourite Rhys Enoch - with three to play - amongst them.
Italian Lorenzo Gagli, who was at the 15th, Belgian Thomas Detry, with eight holes to play, and late starter Toby Tree were also at that mark.
