Nacho Elvira continued his brilliant return to form with a second round 67 at a windy Celtic Manor Resort to take a two shot lead into the weekend at the 2021 Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale.
The Spaniard arrived in Wales having made just two of his last 11 cuts but he has made a mockery of that record over the first two days, moving to 11 under to lead by two shots from Swede Vincent Norrman.
Japan's Masahiro Kawamura was then at eight under after a stunning 63 that was the best round of the day by four shots, a shot clear of England's Matt Wallace.
Elvira has yet to claim a win on the European Tour but he has four on the European Challenge Tour, where brother Manuel was making headlines.
The 24-year-old - ten years Nacho's junior - was also at 11 under at the Italian Challenge and at one point on Friday, we had a pair of siblings leading on the European and Challenge Tours on the same score.
"It’s unbelievable," said Nacho. "He’s been playing great. I saw this morning he started with four birdies in a row and I didn’t want to look any more.
"It’s awesome that we are both 11 under and leading, it’s interesting - that must have never happened before."
The older brother started the day in a share of the lead at seven under and while he bogeyed the first, he holed a 30 footer on the sixth and picked up another birdie on the eighth to turn in 35.
A two putt birdie on the par five 11th was followed by a 20 footer on the 14th and when Elvira drove the green at the par four next, he had another two putt birdie.
He dropped a shot on the 17th but yet another birdie after two putts at the par five last had him in control.
I’m happy with how I’m trying to turn my game around, especially my mind around. So we’ll see what that brings
"Overall, it was a great round - especially with the wind picking up a little bit," he said. "So I’m very happy with four under.
"To be 100 per cent honest, I don’t really care where I end up. I’m happy with how I’m trying to turn my game around, especially my mind around. So we’ll see what that brings."
Co-overnight leader Norrman - playing just his third professional event on Tour - was heading in the wrong direction as he turned in 39 with a double and a bogey but he came to life on the back nine.
He took advantage of the 11th after finding the green in two and then added a hat-trick of gains from the 14th - with the help of a 32 foot putt on the 16th - before again hitting the green in two on the last in a 69.
Kawamura made the most of the par five second, holed a long putt on the third and then put an approach to ten feet at the fourth before hitting a stunning tee shot into the par three seventh.
An incredible second to 11 feet at the 11th brought an eagle and while a bogey on the 14th threatened to stall his momentum, the 28-year-old hit a smart chip into the 15th and approach into the 16th before making his birdie at the last.
Wallace bogeyed the fourth but hit back on the fifth and ninth and made more progress on the 14th and 15th.
Back to back bogeys on the 16th and 17th had him level par for the back nine but he holed a 33 footer for eagle on the last to sign for a 68.
American Chase Hanna, Finn Mikko Korhonen and South African Jacques Kruyswijk were at six under, a shot ahead of another South African in Justin Harding.
