Jamie Donaldson produced a stunning burst of scoring around the turn on his way to a second round 69 that saw him set the early clubhouse target on another difficult morning at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters.
Ryder Cup star Donaldson made five birdies - including three in a row from the ninth - and three bogeys to get to one under par and close the gap on the leaders to a single shot.
The morning conditions were slightly calmer than on the opening day at Real Club Valderrama but the wind did pick up as the Welshman made his way down the stretch, making his hat-trick of gains in the middle of his round even more impressive.
Donaldson briefly joined the leaders on two under when he rolled in his close range birdie putt at the long 17th but he finished with a bogey on the last to head into the weekend on one under.
Overnight co-leaders Connor Syme, who had mixed three birdies with three bogeys in his first 11 holes, and John Catlin, who will tee off in the final group of the day at 15.40 local time, were the only players above Donaldson on two under as the course continued to show its teeth in the early afternoon.
Starting the day three shots off the lead after posting an opening 72, Donaldson picked up his first birdie of the day at the fifth but carded back to back bogeys on the seventh and eighth to slip backwards.
He closed the front nine with a birdie to reach the turn in 35 blows before making further gains at the tenth and long 11th to get into the red numbers.
The 44-year-old made a good up-and-down for par from a tricky spot at the side of the 15th green before keeping the momentum going with another good par on the 16th.
After sending his second shot into the long 17th over the back of the green, Donaldson recovered well to make a birdie there but could not save par at the last.
Young South African Wilco Nienaber had climbed to the top of the leaderboard early in the day after following up two birdies on the front nine with a phenomenal eagle at the tenth, but he surrendered three bogeys in his final three holes to sign for a 70 that leaves him at level par.
