Marc Farry leapfrogged two-time Major Champion Sandy Lyle at the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the Handa Irish Senior Open presented by Fáilte Ireland.
The Frenchman, who started the day a stroke behind Lyle, reached the turn two under par for his round after birdies on the fourth and eight holes.
Lyle posted eight consecutive pars before dropping a shot on the ninth hole, meaning the Scot slipped back to five under par and shots behind Farry, who is chasing his maiden European Senior Tour title.
Glenn Ralph, winner of the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open last year, also reached the turn in two under par 34 to sit one shot off the pace on six under par alongside South African Christopher Williams.
Lyle is one of four Scots in the top ten, alongside Ross Drummond, Bill Longmuir and Gordon Brand Jnr, who eagled the 13th hole to surge up the leaderboard.
Irishman Eamonn Darcy, playing in his first event since the Mauritius Commercial Bank Open in December following a back injury, shot a two under par round of 70 to move to level par for the tournament.
He is level with former champion and Ryder Cup player Costantino Rocca and defending champion Ian Woosnam, the former World Number One who captained Europe to Ryder Cup glory at the nearby K Club in 2006.
