Bernd Wiesberger will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the KLM Open, but he will have local favourite Joost Luiten right on his tail at The Dutch.
The Austrian fired a second consecutive 66 to become the first man this week to get to ten under as large crowds followed him and Dutchman Luiten round the course.
And the 2013 champion gave the locals something to cheer about as he posted a low round of the week 64 to sit just a shot off the lead alongside Nino Bertasio and Mark Foster.
Wiesberger secured seven top tens last season on his way to a ninth-place finish on the Race to Dubai but he has not quite rediscovered that form in 2016, earning two top tens while making every cut in regular European Tour events.
He looked back to his best on Friday, though, as he recovered from two early bogeys with a hat-trick of gains from the fourth and another on the ninth to turn in 33. He was dialled in with his irons and putts from inside ten feet on the 11th, 13th and 15th got him into double figures.
"I've been playing alright, I've just not had breaks going for me," he said. "I've not had a good, solid week on the greens.
It was good to finally hole a couple of putts and get a score -Bernd Wiesberger
"The long game has been steady but it feeds into a whole atmosphere if you can't take advantage of that. So far I've been really taking advantage of my chances and having a great time out there with Joost and Jake (Roos) and the support.
"It was good to finally hole a couple of putts and get a score."
He needed a smart up and down on the last to keep hold of his lead as playing partner Luiten made his seventh birdie of the day to get within one of the lead. That added to gains on the sixth, seventh, eighth, 11th, 12th and 16th - the latter courtesy of a brilliant 40-foot putt that turned 90 degrees left to right down the tier.
Tomorrow is a new day and I need to do the same as I did today - Joost Luiten
"It was special out there," said Luiten. "It was very busy from the beginning, it was a great day with the weather and the golf course is unbelievable so I'm very happy with a 64.
"It's great to feel the crowd behind you. The atmosphere out there was great, not only for me but for my playing partners, and that is what makes it so much fun to play in Holland.
"Tomorrow is a new day and I need to do the same as I did today. If I can keep my irons like I hit today and create a lot of birdie chances and keep the putter warm, I'll be alright."
Italian Bertasio birdied the 16th and 17th to grab a share of the lead but bogeyed the last in a 67 containing a further five birdies and two bogeys.
Englishman Foster was bogey-free as he followed an opening 67 with a 66, with birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, 12th and 15th.
Countryman and playing partner Ben Evans was then at eight under after a 69, alongside another Englishman in Tommy Fleetwood and Spain's Alejandro Cañizares, who both recorded rounds of 67.
Australia's Scott Hend, Finn Mikko Korhonen and English trio Daniel Gavins, David Horsey and Simon Khan were then a further shot back.
