European Tour rookie Richie Ramsay shot a bogey free 67 to take the clubhouse lead at The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
The Scot – a former US Amateur Championship winner led by one from English pair Robert Rock and Ross Fisher.
"I didn't miss a green," said Ramsay. "But it wasn't as if I was in it sort of 20 foot, I was inside ten, 12 feet.
"Really happy with the round, but it could have been one of those ones that got to six, seven, eight under. I missed three birdie putts inside six feet, and a couple of kind of ten to 12 footers, but I made a couple of nice ones and got to look at the positives."
Rock is the player who three weeks ago lost a play-off for The 3 Irish Open to amateur Shane Lowry, while at 23 in the world Fisher is the highest ranked player taking part.
He shot a fine 66, but having got to eight under Rock was disappointed to go in the water for a double bogey at the 422 yard sixth and bogeyed the next two before finishing with two birdies like Fisher.
In the clubhouse on five under are Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed, France’s Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh.
“It was a roller coaster ride,” said Singh. “I made eight birdies for three under, so a lot of good shots. A lot of bad ones, too, but I'm still happy. I'm still in there so five under par - not too far off right now.”
Colin Montgomerie stayed in the hunt at The Celtic Manor Resort with a second successive 69 - but American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin looked likely to miss the halfway cut.
On four under par at halfway Montgomerie was three behind compatriot Ramsay.
Montgomerie was actually sharing top spot after starting his round at next year's Ryder Cup venue with three successive birdies, but he said: "I was quite happy to finish with a 69 to be honest.
"It's not an easy course. This is quite difficult, a big course.
"It could have and should have been better, but I am learning to accept what I get because of what the last year has been like."
Europe's Captain has not had a top ten finish for almost 12 months, but has shown something like his best form this week.
Pavin had another 72 to hand in a two-over aggregate and commented: "I think I hit only one fairway in the first ten holes.
"Short and crooked is a bad combination. It looks like I am probably going to miss by one and that's always frustrating, but I am old enough to understand that these things happen.
"If I do have the weekend off my wife and I will probably do some touristy things and just hang out with the people.
"The reception has been very good. I've met a lot of nice people and I'm not sure there's a mean person in Wales."
Montgomerie, 46 in just over two weeks, is playing his sixth tournament in a row, but although his run comes to an end on Sunday he is going to be far from idle next week.
On his diary for the end of the week is a trip to the International Olympic Committee to speak in favour of golf's bid for inclusion in the 2016 Games.
Out on the course, Spain's Ignacio Garrido, Scot Callum MacAulay, Australia's Richard Greena and Ireland's Paul McGinley have all reached five under for the tournament shortly after the turn.
