Four early birdies saw Ross Fisher reach the turn with a one-shot lead on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Fisher began his second round a single shot behind overnight leader Alex Noren, who posted a stunning 64 on Thursday to equal the course record at Carnoustie.
But the five-time European Tour winner soon joined Noren at the summit, firing a birdie at the second at St Andrews to move to eight under.
Noren, playing at Kingsbarns on Friday, regained the outright lead with a birdie at the third but Fisher made another gain at his fifth hole to take a share of the lead.
Fisher then found himself alone at the top of the leaderboard on nine under after Noren carded a disappointing double bogey at the fifth to slip to seven under.
And the 35 year old extended his lead to two strokes with a gain at the seventh.
South African Jbe Kruger, also playing at St Andrews, cut Fisher's lead back to one with his fifth birdie of the day at the tenth but the Englishman picked up another shot at the short eighth to restore his two-shot advantage.
Fisher finished his front nine with a par to reach the turn in 32, but with Kruger firing another birdie at the 11th, Fisher's lead was back down to one.
