Dylan Frittelli picked up four shots early on day two to open up a one-shot lead at the Shenzhen International.
The South African entered the day two shots behind overnight leader Bubba Watson after both men managed to complete their first rounds on a weather-affected Thursday, and moved to eight under after his first 12 holes of round two.
The Challenge Tour graduate is seeking a first European Tour win at Genzon Golf Club but had some illustrious company near the top of the leaderboard with Thongchai Jaidee, Thorbjørn Olesen and Bernd Wiesberger just a shot behind him.
Jaidee turned in 34 to get to seven under while Olesen was three under for his round and Wiesberger two under as they both approached the turn.
None of the players who had to complete their first rounds in the morning could catch Watson but Wiesberger made a birdie in his final two holes to sit just a shot back and carried that momentum into round two.
The Austrian made birdies on the 13th and 14th to get to seven under and join Jaidee who had gains on the same holes.
The Thai then dropped a shot on the next but regained it on the 17th as Olesen began to make his way through the field.
The Dane birdied the tenth and 12th and when he added another on the 16th, he was in a share of the lead, before Frittelli made an even bigger move.
Having started the day alongside Olesen at four under, he made a gain on the third before a hat-trick of birdies from the ninth catapulted him into the lead on his own.
George Coetzee was four under after 12 holes like countryman Frittelli to sit at six under alongside Scott Jamieson and Watson.
Scotsman Jamieson had picked up a shot as he finished his first round and picked up three more in the first eight holes of round two, while Watson was due out with the later starters.
Richie Ramsay and Jordan Smith were both two under for their rounds to sit three shots off the lead.
