Thomas Detry was the picture of consistency as he surged to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway mark of the 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The Belgian is still awaiting his maiden European Tour victory and he improved his chances after a second successive bogey free round at Emirates Golf Club.
Detry carded five birdies in his first round to sit three shots behind overnight leader Richard Sterne but as the South African slipped down the scoreboard, the 28-year-old made his move.
Scot Robert MacIntyre set the new clubhouse target at nine under par but he was overhauled by Detry as the World Number 86 matched his first round score to lead by one in Dubai.
"First thing that comes to my mind is bogey free, on this course, that's a pretty good achievement. Let's keep it that way," Detry said.
"I've been playing some really good golf, keeping it on the fairway and hitting every single green and getting up-and-down a couple good times. So I'm very pleased.
"It would be extra special (to win). I'm moving here in a couple weeks, as well, so this is my new residence. So winning at home would be amazing."
MacIntyre also began the day three strokes behind Sterne but he started climbing courtesy of a birdie at the 12th - his third - to move to six under.
The only man bogey free for 36 holes ✍️@tomdetry takes a one shot lead into the weekend. #ODDC | @Workday
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 29, 2021
American Kurt Kitayama jumped into the lead with the South African at eight under with a birdie at the fourth before slipping back down following successive bogeys from the next.
MacIntyre found himself in joint leadership when he picked up a shot at the 18th and Sterne bogeyed the fourth, but when the Scot rolled in his second straight birdie at the first - he was the tournament leader.
Sterne fell further back with dropped shots at the sixth and ninth but MacIntyre powered into a two shot advantage to set the target before the afternoon starters began.
The 24-year-old sent his tee shot at the par three seventh to eight feet and rolled in his fourth birdie of the day in a flawless 68.
"It wasn't as pretty as yesterday's round, if I'm being honest. Wasn't as solid. But that's the way golf is," MacIntyre admitted.
"You can't have a 72-hole tournament where you hit it absolutely perfectly. But I hung in there and I putted great."
Spain's Ardi Arnaus and South African Justin Harding were among the late challengers as the former rolled in gains at the tenth, 12th and 13th, while the latter birdied the 13th to get to seven under.
Finn Mikko Korhonen and Kitayama were in the clubhouse, while Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat was out on the course at seven under but Harding jumped out of the logjam with a birdie at the ninth.
Arnaus continued his birdie trail and moved alongside MacIntyre at the summit with back to back gains from the 16th, however, Detry was on the charge.
Birdies at the tenth, 15th and 17th saw him ascend to eight under and despite lipping out another chance at the 18th, he increased the leading group to three by picking up a shot at second.
Detry did not have to wait long to be out on his own thanks to a fifth birdie of the day at the third to become the first player to reach double figures.
A fine approach to the fifth opened up another chance for a gain from 22 feet but could not drain the effort, although he salvaged par with a terrific chip to close range at par three seventh after a wayward tee shot.
The Belgian could not hole another lengthy birdie opportunity at the eighth before parring his final hole to remain at ten under par - one shot ahead of MacIntyre.
Harding was at eight under and was joined by Tommy Fleetwood, who eagled the last for successive rounds of 68, and Finn Kalle Samooja.
Arnaus bogeyed three of the last five holes to slip to seven under along with Korhonen and Kitayama, with English duo Paul Casey and Lee Westwood also reaching that mark with South African Brandon Stone.
