Bradley Dredge extended his overnight lead to two shots early on day two of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The Welshman took advantage of the calm conditions on day one at Doha Golf Club to card an opening round of 64 and followed that up with two birdies on Friday as he goes in search of a first European Tour title since 2006.
Dredge also made a single bogey to get to nine under, two shots clear of Finn Mikko Korhonen and Spaniard Jorge Campillo.
Starting on the back nine, Dredge began his round with a birdie on the par five tenth but gave the shot back on the 13th before another birdie followed on the 16th.
Korhonen was level par for his round after ten holes despite a double-bogey on the tenth, while Dredge's playing partner Campillo was storming through the field. He picked up birdies on the 11th, 14th, 17th and 18th to turn in 32.
Chilean Felipe Aguilar was also four under for his round after ten holes with birdies on the tenth, 14th, 17th and first moving him to seven under.
Ernie Els, the 2005 champion, was also in that group after picking up two shots in his first seven holes.
Fellow South African Thomas Aiken birdied the tenth and 11th to make a fast start and sit at seven under after three holes, alongside Spain's Nacho Elvira, who picked up a single shot in his first eight.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Nathan Kimsey and Graeme McDowell completed the group three shots off the lead and they were due out in the second wave.
