Irishman Simon Thornton shot a six-under par 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead at the midway point of the Madeira Islands Open.
The 34-year-old made a strong start to his second round at the Porto Santo Golf Club in Portugal, with a birdie, par and an eagle from his opening three holes.
Although he slipped up with a bogey at the fifth, four more birdies on the back nine lifted Thornton to seven under for the tournament, one stroke clear of Frenchman François Delamontagne.
English duo Jamie Elson and Chris Gane are tied for third on five under the card and they are followed by a chasing trio consisting of Denmark's Andreas Harto, Scotland's Alastair Forsyth and Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland.
Another Scot, Lloyd Saltman, is in eighth place on three under and he is being pursued by a pack of four on two under made up of Lee Slattery, Colm Moriarty, Emanuele Canonica and Magnus Carlsson.