Jeev Milkha Singh and Michael Lorenzo-Vera defied breezy conditions at The London Golf Club to take the halfway lead at The European Open.
Both men recorded three under par rounds of 69 to reach eight under par after two rounds, with England’s Anthony Wall and France’s Christian Cévaër a shot further back.
The difficulty of the afternoon conditions was highlighted by the fact only Singh and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie – six under for a tie of fifth after a 71 – made an impact on the leaderboard in the latter part of the day.
Overnight leader Anders Hansen, Wales’ Jamie Donaldson and Spain’s José Manual Lara all reached the clubhouse at six under earlier in the day.
Singh was out in the much windier afternoon and his 69 was a superb effort, although after chipping in at the short 17th he bogeyed the last.
Not that that was a disgrace. With water down the left there were sixes, sevens and eights galore.
“It was quite tough in the breeze,” Singh revealed. “I think it was quite tough to judge the right club, and especially the distance on the back nine, especially on the breeze coming left to right and right to left.
“But I'm fortunate, I had a great chip in on number 17 - wrong club off the tee but I got away with a birdie. That's a bonus. 18 was playing really tough, I hit a bad drive but got around the green, didn't make up and down, but I'm still happy with a 69. I think 69 in these conditions, I take any day.
Lorenzo-Vera won The European Challenge Tour two years ago and was second in the Volvo China Open last season, but a small boy in Dubai will remember him for something very different - he gave him his whole set of irons at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.
"Usually I break the clubs when I am angry, so Raphael Jacquelin told me one day 'Instead of breaking it, just give it'.
"The boy asked for an autograph and I said 'I have better for you'. He was a very happy little boy."
The 24 year old was much more satisfied with his equipment on this occasion, not dropping a shot and picking up birdies at the 12th, 16th and fourth for a 69.
“I putted better than usual,” said Lorenzo-Vera. “My driving is good, and my irons are average, and I can fix the rest around the greens.
“I am very excited. It's always good to be leading and it's going to be a big crowd tomorrow. I'm going to be playing maybe in the last groups, good chance to be in the last group, so just enjoying it and be good.”
Wall has a chance to move into the world's top 50 for the first time, seven days after his rival as a youngster Paul Casey went to number three by capturing the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club.
On his 34th birthday the Londoner added a 69 to his opening 68 to stand seven under par.
"I've been an also-ran for a long time, but I expect to do well this week," said the man whose only European Tour victory in more than 300 starts came in South Africa nine years ago.
"I've got better technique and now I'm getting older things don't bother me quite as much. But you don't win unless you putt well for four days and to be honest I've only done that once or twice in my life."
Not that Wall could be called a struggling professional by any stretch of the imagination.
He has earned more than €2,000,000 in the last three years and he has lofty ambitions - asked what he hoped to have achieved by the time he turns 40 he replied: "I hope to have won The Open.
"It's always been my goal and the first time I played one the atmosphere blew me away."
