Stephen Dodd defied abominable conditions - not just perishing cold, but a brutal wind and some rain as well - to shoot one of the best rounds of his European Tour career today.
A two-under-par 70 in the second round of the Volvo China Open in Shanghai enabled the 38-year-old from Cardiff to take over at the top from fellow Welshman Bradley Dredge with a six-under-par halfway total of 138.
Although Dredge could do no better than 75 to stand two under, that was still five strokes better than joint overnight leader Unho Park, the Australian crashing all the way back to three over.
Dodd, whose 58th place on the Order of Merit just finished was his highest ever, said: "I've never played a tournament in conditions like that. In fact, I've never been that cold before."
The start of play scheduled for 7am was delayed for 15 minutes because it was still too dark, but the former British amateur champion, who after turning professional in 1990 made no fewer than 10 trips to the tour qualifying school before establishing himself, then went to the turn in an almost unbelievable 33.
He added another birdie at the 392-yard 15th, but bogeys came on the 10th and short 17th.
Lincolnshire's Matthew King, a graduate from last season's Challenge Tour, managed a 73 to stay in the hunt for victory in only his second appearance on the main circuit.
Pre-tournament favourite Thomas Bjorn added a 72 to his opening 71 to be five back.
