Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez made a spectacular return to form to set the clubhouse target on six under par during the second round of the Open de España.
A second consecutive 69 saw the 45 year old bounce back from a double bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the last.
Gonzalez is a four-time European Tour winner, with half his titles coming on Spanish soil and his most recent victory occurring six years ago in Sweden.
But having not had a top-ten finish since 2013, he was forced to return to Qualifying School last November where he finished second to earn an 18th season on The European Tour.
“I’m happy with my game; two rounds of 69 in this windy conditions is a great score,” said Gonzalez.
"I hit a bad tee shot on 17 and then I tried to hit the green, which was a big mistake, so I paid for it. I made a good six and then I said to my caddy ‘I need to make a good birdie on 18’. I played two great shots to the green and that gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow.
“I would prefer to have it playing tough over the weekend because it advantages the longer hitters and those who are striking the ball well; I find myself in that category this week.
“I love playing in Spain, I have good friends here, and the food is good, like in Argentina, so I feel at home.
“I get on very well with all my Spanish colleagues, so it would be nice to make the youngsters work a bit. Many people support me here, so I will try to give them a good show.
“I had a wonderful week in Q School and it gave me the chance to be here today. Last year was a hard year - that’s golf when your mind is not there. This year I’m focusing more on my game.”
Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey was a shot behind after adding a 68 to his opening 71, with Darren Fichardt also five under after a 73.
Fichardt carded a superb 66 in the tougher afternoon conditions on Thursday and moved into a two shot lead with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth, but dropped four shots in the space of six holes from the tenth to come home in 40.
Overnight leader and fellow South African Trevor Fisher Jnr was also finding the going tough, dropping shots at the first, third and fifth to drop back to four under.
Pre-tournament favourite Sergio Garcia faced an anxious wait to see if he would miss the cut for the first time in 11 appearances.
Five of Garcia's 11 European Tour titles have come on home soil and the World Number Seven came into the event having lost out in a play-off for the Players Championship on Sunday.
However, the 35 year old could only add a second round of 72 to his opening 75 at Real Club de Golf El Prat to finish three over par, one shot outside the projected cut as the wind began to pick up as forecast for the afternoon starters.
"I didn't feel I played that badly," Garcia told reporters. "I hit a lot of good shots, but it's difficult when you don't guess the wind right.
"It was a great week last week with everything that happened. It takes it out of you, but it's no excuse. You just try your best and hope it's good enough."
Garcia looked certain to make an early exit when he covered the back nine in 36 with two birdies and two bogeys and then dropped shots on the second and third to lie five over par.
However, the Ryder Cup star birdied the fourth and seventh and crucially saved par from a greenside bunker on the ninth to keep his hopes alive.
