Kurt Kitayama found himself in possession of a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open after opening the tournament with back-to-back 65s.
The American, who earned his European Tour card at Qualifying School earlier this month, carded nine birdies and a double bogey on Friday morning to set the clubhouse target at 14 under par.
And none of the afternoon starters were able to catch Kitayama, whose nearest challenger was first-round co-leader S Chikkarangappa following his second-round 68.
Frenchmen Victor Perez and Matthieu Pavon sat in a tie for third on 11 under, while Irishman Gavin Moynihan was another stroke further back after posting a brilliant 65 in the afternoon.
The Dubliner birdied eight holes and dropped just a single shot to build on his opening-day 69.
Defending champion Dylan Frittelli and course-designer Ernie Els both head into the weekend on five under.
After beginning round two with a birdie, Kitayama ran up a double-bogey seven at the long second to slip back to six under par.
But he did not let that affect him, bouncing straight back with four birdies in a row from the third before picking up four more shots on the back nine to take the lead.
