Jason Scrivener produced the lowest round of the week so far to sit two shots clear at the top of the 2022 Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed leaderboard at the halfway stage.
The Australian reeled off eight birdies - including four in a row from the 11th - in a spotless 64 on Friday, keeping his card clean with a par save from nine feet at the last.
Italian amateur Carolina Melgrati was one of three players in a tie for second after following up Thursday's 65 with a second-round 69, with home favourite Linn Grant and Mike Lorenzo-Vera also on ten under par.
Grant, a winner two weeks ago at The Mithra Belgian Ladies Open, mixed six birdies with two bogeys in an impressive 68 which she capped with a fine birdie at the last.
Afternoon starter Lorenzo-Vera had closed the gap to Scrivener to just one shot after notching seven birdies in his opening 13 holes but his first bogey of the day at the 17th saw him sign for a 66.
Craig Howie and Daniel Gavins were in a share of fifth place on nine under, one stroke ahead of tournament co-host Henrik Stenson following his 66.
Scrivener began the day three shots off the lead but soon set about closing the gap, pouring in a 32-foot birdie putt at the long second before making back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth.
The 33-year-old then caught fire on the back nine, carding four consecutive birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th thanks to a hot putter.
Scrivener curled in his 20-foot effort at the 17th for another birdie before holing his tricky par putt on the 18th green to set the clubhouse target on 12 under par.
None of the afternoon starters were able to catch him and Scrivener is looking forward to doing battle with his challengers over the weekend.
Scrivener, who held a share of the lead after 54 holes at this event last year, said: "I'm looking forward to it. It has been a while since I have been in contention and I'm just excited to be in this position. I can’t wait.
"It has been a frustrating couple of months, and I felt a round like this was close and I am pretty happy with it.
Bogey-free 64 ✍️@ScrivJ leads the way at -12 after eight birdies in the second round.#VolvoScandinavianMixed
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 10, 2022
"I have been playing decent just not really holing any putts and making a few mistakes here and there, and not putting a score together, so for it all to come together today it was nice."
Melgrati, 19, got three of her four birdies at the par-threes during a sensational second round and was struggling to describe how it felt to be in contention at the halfway stage.
She said: "I don’t know any adjective to describe this feeling! It’s great and it’s unbelievable.
"It has been great. I’m excited and I just want to keep going. I can’t wait to play tomorrow! I love playing, so that’s my dream."
Grant was pleased with her closing birdie, which came courtesy of a stunning approach shot.
She said: "When the putt went in on the 18th, it was so nice.
"You always hear yourself screaming in your head when you make a putt, but to hear everything louder and not be able to hear yourself because of everyone else – it is really nice.
"Just to have people that I know in the crowd was great."
Lorenzo-Vera said: “I changed my grip at the beginning of the week and I feel a bit more comfortable and some shots are getting out pretty well, so here we are. I will just try to play well and see what happens.”
Home hero Peter Hanson, making his final appearance on the DP World Tour this week before retiring from competitive golf, was treated to a wonderful send-off on the 18th green on Friday.
Playing partner and friend Stenson paid tribute to Hanson, saying: "It is a long and successful career, part of two winning Ryder Cup teams and six wins on the DP World Tour and some other really good finishes.
"So I wish him the best in the life after professional golf and it was fun to be out with him and to be able to finish on home soil with the crowds is certainly the cherry on the cake."
