Todd Clements produced a fast finish to his second round to claim a two-shot halfway lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
The Englishman is one of 50 DP World Tour members in the field in the Dominican Republic, with both PGA TOUR and DP World Tour cards on offer to the winner in the event played opposite to the Open Championship.
Clements is without a top ten so far this season on the Race to Dubai but followed up a first-round 65 with a 66 on Friday as he birdied four of his final six holes to reach 13 under at Puntacana Resort and Club.
Fellow DP World Tour member Johannes Veerman sits in a three-way tie for second at 11 under alongside fellow American duo Ben James and Gordon Sargent.
First round co-leader Clements birdied the tenth and 12th, before adding further gains at the fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth to complete a bogey-free round over the par 72 Corales Course.
“Just going to keep trying to do the same things,” said. the 2023 D+D Real Czech Masters champion.
"The field has some great players out here and I know golf does some funny things.
"It’s just about continuing to do what I do and controlling what I’m trying to control and get out there and see if we can do the same job.”
Veerman had a run of four consecutive birdies on his back nine in a 67 that was matched by Sargent, with James in the mix in his fifth professional start after a 66.
Alejandro del Rey, who won his first DP World Tour title last season in Ras Al Khaimah, is three shots adrift of the lead after a 68.
Ivan Cantero, tied for the lead with Clements after day one, carded a 71 to drop into a tie for seventh at eight under.
