Jeunghun Wang felt he was beginning to get the hang of European conditions as he fired a five under par 66 to take a share of the lead into the weekend at the 100th Open de France.
The South Korean made his breakthrough on the European Tour in May with back-to-back victories at the Trophée Hassan II and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in just his 14th and 15th events.
With victory in north Africa, Wang secured his full Tour exemption and he has since focused his game on the European Tour but it has not been a completely smooth transition with three missed cuts in four events.
The 20 year old's 66 at Le Golf National on Friday was matched only by World Number Four Rory McIlroy, though, and he feels he is beginning to adjust to the rigours of life on Tour.
"After I came to Europe, it was quite hard for me," he said. "The weather is cold and so dry. The rough is pretty hard for me so I have a lot of missed cuts. But finally I played well this week.
"I had a lot of mistakes in the first round but I had a great recovery today.
It's really a great round today. I love my score very much. I love my position - Jeunghun Wang
Wang and his fellow rookie Brandon Stone are in a five-way tie for the lead with experienced campaigners Mikko Ilonen, Thongchai Jaidee and McIlroy.
Jaidee has seven wins from his 329 appearances on Tour and he was happy to follow up his opening 67 with a 70 courtesy of a birdie on his final hole.
"I'm very happy with one under par today," he said. "The conditions were tough. Even on the front nine the pin positions were tough. The course set-up is very tough this year.
"Luckily the greens are softer than normal. That's okay but the windy conditions affected the course a lot. A couple of holes it is going to be difficult to have control. Even the fairways are very difficult and that's why we're very happy to be one under par today.
"I hit my irons well but not many greens. A lot of up-and-downs.
"It's a good challenge. Five under par for Saturday and Sunday, I'm going to try and do my work again tomorrow."
