Koreans Y E Yang and Baek Seuk-hyun shot matching rounds of 63 to share the clubhouse lead during the second round of the Omega European Masters in the Swiss Alps.
Yang, the 2009 US PGA Champion, has not won anywhere since 2010, but grabbed the clubhouse lead at Crans-sur-Sierre by following up Thursday's 65 with a seven under par round.
That was swiftly matched by compatriot Baek, who defied having made only one cut all season on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour with five birdies and an eagle on the long 15th.
“The conditions were ideal and my putting was good as well, so I’m very happy,” said Yang.
“I managed to judge the ball distance better as the ball flies ten per cent further due to the altitude - it’s beautiful, with the mountains and scenery.”
Swedish amateur Marcus Kinhult impressed with a round of 66 on his 19th birthday to take third place on nine under, with his compatriot Rikard Karlberg, Australian Richard Green and French pair Grégory Havret and Raphaël Jacquelin a shot further back.
Playing the back nine first, Karlberg made back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh only to drop a shot when he shanked his drive and three-putted on the ninth.
But following a top-ten finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open the 28 year old feels his game is in a good place.
“I’m feeling confident and hopefully I can build on that confidence for the rest of the week here,” he said.
Overnight leader Havret had a hole-in-one and an eagle in round one, but he struggled to make gains like that during his second round, picking up just two birdies.
Tyrrell Hatton had moved into the lead with an early birdie blitz for the second day running, reaching the turn in 30, yet a wayward drive down the left on the first led to the first of four bogeys in eight holes as he slipped back.
Sergio Garcia finished on one under par and faced a lengthy wait to see if he had made the cut.
