Victor Perez edged into a one shot lead early on day two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as World Number Two Rory McIlroy made a charge through the field in Scotland.
Perez began the day a single shot behind overnight leader Justin Walters but picked up three shots in his first six holes at Carnoustie to move to 11 under.
Finn Tapio Pulkkanen was a shot back after turning in 33 playing the back nine at St Andrews, one clear of Walters, Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and England's Jordan Smith.
McIlroy had fired an opening 70 at Carnoustie but picked up five shots in his first five holes at Kingsbarns to turn in 31 and fly up the leaderboard to within four of the lead.
Perez is based in Dundee where his girlfriend is studying and he was making the most the of his links prowess on Scotland's east coast.
Pulkkanen got off to a flying start, leaping into the lead with birdies on the tenth, 11th and 12th moving him into double figures.
Perez had also made an early birdie on the first but when he gave the shot straight back on the next, Pulkkanen led by two.
The leading duo exchanged birdies on the 14th and third but Perez made it two in a row on the fourth to get within one.
There was then a two shot swing as Pulkkanen bogeyed the 17th and Perez birdied the sixth to replace him in top spot.
South African Walters was level par through seven holes at Carnoustie, while Otaegui and Smith were both one under in the early stages of their rounds.
Tony Finau, Ryan Fox, Calum Hill, Kristoffer Reitan, Matthew Southgate and Paul Waring were all eight under.
