Thongchai Jaidee turned in 32 to open up a two-shot lead early on day two of the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
The Thai veteran entered Friday a shot behind overnight leaders Miguel Angel Jiménez, Tyrrell Hatton and Scott Hend and opened with a bogey but bounced back with an eagle and two birdies on the back nine.
The 47 year old has just one top ten so far this season but is looking for a fourth consecutive campaign with a win and a ninth European Tour title in total.
Thursday's leading trio - all due out in the afternoon - were in a tie for second at six under, a shot clear of Scottish duo David Drysdale and Duncan Stewart, South African Darren Fichardt, Kiwi Ryan Fox and Australian Todd Sinnott.
All of that group were due out with the later starters except for Fox who was level par for his ten holes.
Jaidee recorded a first blemish of the week on the tenth but bounced back with a birdie on the 12th, an eagle on the par five 15th and another gain on the 18th.
Fox was having a roller coaster of a morning, starting with a double-bogey but recording a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th before dropping a shot on the 17th.
American Julian Suri had a single gain on the 14th in his opening seven holes to sit at four under alongside Australian Brett Rumford, who picked up a shot on the third in his first four.
Another American, Daniel Im, amateur countryman Sean Crocker, Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, Spaniard Carlos Pigem and Paraguayan Fabrizio Zanotti were all also four off the lead and among the later starters.