France's Jean-Francois Lucquin set a new course record to move to the top of the leaderboard in the North West of Ireland Open.
Lucquin carded a second-round 67 for a two-under-par halfway total of 142 at Ballyliffin. It is the first time he has played a links course.
The 23-year-old former French amateur champion is currently second on the Challenge Tour but victory on Sunday could see him close within a few thousand pounds of leader Lee James.
"I'm now thinking ahead to next season and I know it will be very hard. There are a lot of good players on the European Tour. The courses are more difficult than the Challenge Tour and I know I will have to improve a lot."
Italian Massimo Florioli is two under with three holes of his second round to play. Spain's Jesus Maria Arruti and Denmark's Allan Hogh are in the clubhouse on one under.
Former Ryder Cup star Constantino Rocca opened with a bogey on the first to drop back to level par, while playing partners Andrew Coltart and Andrew Oldcorn were four over and six over respectively.