Michael Lorenzo-Vera set the clubhouse target at eight under par as The European Open second round began to take shape at The London Club.
While the Frenchman posted a three under 69 for a one shot lead, Londoner Anthony Wall celebrated his 34th birthday by staying in contention.
Wall followed up his 68 with a 69 and at seven under par went to lunch one behind Lorenzo-Vera.
Lorenzo-Vera has now played half the tournament without dropping a shot, and his round was highlighted by birdies at the fourth, 12th and 16th.
“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.”
Joint sixth in last week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last Sunday, Wall had five successive birdies from the long 12th.
He began his run there by chipping to 18 inches, then sank putts of 14, eight and five feet before hitting a superb approach to ten feet on the difficult 486 yard 16th. He finished disappointingly, however, with a bogey on the ninth.
Wall was joined by Lorenzo-Vera’s compatriot Christian Cévaër on seven under, with Jamie Donaldson, Anders Hansen and José Manuel Lara on six under in the clubhouse.
Lorenzo-Vera's 69 for eight under set a new clubhouse target and first of the afternoon starters to join him on that mark was South African Thomas Aiken thanks to birdies at the fourth and fifth.
