Peter Lawrie is just four shots off Jens Fahrbring and Lucas Bjerregaard's lead at the halfway stage of the Italian Open in Monza.
The Dubliner followed up his impressive four-under-par opening round 68, going one shot better to post a nine under total ahead of the weekend's action.
Lawrie heads into the weekend in a tie for 13th place after a near flawless round at the Italian event, posting six birdies, including a fine stretch of four in a row, with just the one bogey on his card.
Ryder Cup veteran trio Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and current captain Darren Clarke all made it through to the third round as all three Irish golfers sit on four under, right on the cut mark.
No such luck for Gavin Moynihan on his professional debut as he posted a total of five over after shooting 76 today, while Simon Thornton (-1), Kevin Phelan (+1) and Damian McGrane (+2) also missed the cut.
Sweden's Fahrbring admitted he was as surprised as anyone to claim a share of the lead in Italy
Fahrbring won the D+D Real Czech Challenge in May on the Challenge Tour but had missed the cut in all four of his European Tour events so far this year.
But despite not feeling 100 per cent, the world number 302 fired nine birdies and one bogey in a second round of 64 to join playing partner Bjerregaard of Denmark, who shot 65, on top of the leaderboard on 13 under par.
"I am quite surprised where I am because I was not well at the start of this week," the 31-year-old said. "I picked up a cold and a fever last week in Kazakhstan, so yesterday was a struggle and I didn't expect to play so well.
"Today was a little better in terms of how I felt, and perhaps being unwell helped calm me down and lowered my expectations. It was great to be out there with Lucas as he was playing well and we have played a lot of golf together over the years, so I think we helped each other along.
"Winning this year on the Challenge Tour has taught me a lot about my game. The more you can do that and put yourself under pressure then the better player you will become. Hopefully that helps into this weekend but this is the first time I have been this high at a European Tour event."
Overnight leader Nicolas Colsaerts could only add a 70 to his opening 63 to lie two shots off the pace alongside Spain's Pedro Oriol, France's Romain Wattel and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti.
Two-time major winner Martin Kaymer was part of a five-strong group another stroke back on 10 under, the former world number one firing five birdies and an eagle in his 66.
"I didn't play as good as yesterday to be honest," Kaymer said. "I didn't hit as many fairways as yesterday and therefore I feel like I didn't have as many chances as well but I shot a better score. It was a strange one.
"I felt a little bit tired, I didn't sleep very well last night, therefore (it is) even better if you make a few birdies at the beginning of the round to get the round going."
Playing partner Bernd Wiesberger is also 10 under after a 68, with England's Danny Willett and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez on nine under.
