Former champion Richie Ramsay held a slender one-stroke lead over Jamie Donaldson at the halfway point of the Omega European Masters.
Ramsay set the clubhouse mark at 12 under after shooting a 66 in early wet conditions, before Donaldson appeared set to surge past him after starting his round in the afternoon.
The Welshman stormed out in a 31 and then when he holed a 25 footer for his fourth successive birdie at the tenth, he was just a shot behind Ramsay.
A second bogey in as many days at the 417 yard par four 12th – where Donaldson narrowly avoided the water – checked his progress until a near-perfect pitch to the last left him with a simple tap-in to complete a superb 64 and move a shot off the pace.
England’s Graeme Storm and American Brooks Koepka were a stroke further back.
Ramsay had shared the overnight lead with Edoardo Molinari, after both posted flawless rounds of 62 at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, with the Scot admitting he had thought of shooting the first 59 in European Tour history after an eagle and six birdies in 15 holes.
The 31 year old from Aberdeen had to settle for pars on the final three holes but was soon back among the birdies this morning, picking up shots at the 15th and 16th – having started from the 10th – to be out in 32.
After another birdie on the par five first, a hole he eagled yesterday, 2012 champion Ramsay dropped his first shot of the week on the fourth to briefly see his lead reduced to a single shot.
However, the World Number 177 then birdied the fifth and drove the green on the short seventh to set up another and eventually signed for a round of 66.
“Today was a little bit tougher especially on the back nine, where some of the pins were very tricky,” Ramsay said.
“The rain made life a bit trickier and the temperature also dropped, which made distance control difficult. So it was definitely harder than yesterday, but I stayed steady and my attitude was good again, so overall it was another good day’s work.”
He added: "I’ve got a lot of experience in this tournament, and I’ve got some experience of leading at the halfway stage.”
Donaldson was pleased with another profitable round as he looks to improve on his fourth placing in The Race to Dubai.
After his blazing start Donaldson admitted he could have gone even lower, although he did have some fortune at the 12th when his approach rolled back down the run off from the green only to pull up just before getting wet.
“I played well again today, especially on the front nine,” he said.
“I probably could’ve gone one or two shots lower today, but as golfers always say that. We’re never happy!
“Overall, I’ve got to be very happy with the way I played and the position I’m in.”
Storm had followed Donaldson in picking up strokes on the front nine, reaching the turn in 33, but could only find one more birdie on the way home to join Koepka, who shot his second successive 65.
Fellow American David Lipski was a shot behind alongside Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who went one better than his opening-round 66, and Gareth Maybin.
Molinari dropped down from the overnight lead into a five-way tie for eighth place after an up-and-down round of 70, in which he traded four birdies and as many bogeys.
The Italian was joined on eight under by Seve Benson, Victor Dubuisson, Tommy Fleetwood and Marc Warren, who shot the day’s best round.
The Scot signed for a 63 after beginning with his second successive eagle at the first. He followed that with seven birdies and a pair of bogeys to rise into the top ten.
