Paul Waring held his lead at the Cazoo Classic by adding a round of 70 to his opening 63 as players struggled with the wind during day two at Hillside.
The 37-year-old from Birkenhead had made the most of local knowledge to lead after shooting a nine under par round on day one at Southport.
The going was tougher on day two but Waring, who started from the tenth tee, was two under par for the day after five birdies and three bogeys.
A bogey five on the first looked to have dropped him down into the chasing pack but birdies on the second, third and seventh meant he was back to two under for the day and 11 under overall.
Waring, who won the 2018 Nordea Masters at Hills Golf & Sports Club in Gothenburg, Sweden, admitted: “Very different golf course today. Completely different wind direction which made it a bit more tricky visually. There were a lot more holes I could really see a golf course on yesterday with the opposite wind, and then today it was a bit more fiddly for me, especially hitting a draw as it was hard to get a start line correct, which is where I struggled at times.
"I ground it out well and the putter felt good, so I was made up to shoot two under and extend my lead.
"I didn’t really think about it too much, didn’t dwell on it. I know it’s so cliché, but just trying to take it one shot at a time and seeing where the ball ends up, and then try to go and play again.
"I have been trying to work at that so hard over the last few months, it's amazing how quickly you can get too far ahead of yourself, so it is something that is definitely at the forefront of my mind."
Frenchman Julien Guerrier was in a three way tie for second as a bogey on the ninth, his final hole, saw Jens Dantorp drop a shot and sign for a 69 to add to a 66 from the first day.
Guerrier said: “As you see, the wind direction changed completely, so it is a completely different course. The links course is very interesting when you have different winds and we have to adapt and still have a good strategy.
“We didn’t know whether the forecast would be blowing or rain, or both, but the wind picked up a little bit on the last hole and now it has dropped a bit, so I think it will stay like that."
Dantorp, a Challenge Tour winner this season looking to triumph on the DP World Tour as well, said: "It's always good to see you can do well on the big stage as well. Overall I played solid golf so I'm pleased."
Dantorp hurt his neck during the first round and added: "I pulled something yesterday morning, last four holes were a struggle, it was really painful."
Also on nine under was Grant Forrest, who carded five birdies and two bogeys.
Daan Huizing, of the Netherlands, was alone in fifth after a second round of 68, and a three way tie for sixth, on seven under, involved England's Garrick Porteous and Callum Shinkwin and Sami Välimäki of Finland.
