Padraig Harrington missed the cut at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship as Calum Hill equalled the course record with a magnificent 61.
Three-time major winner Harrington started the day on one-under but his three birdies were offset by three bogeys and a double on the 17th.
The Dubliner finished on two-over, four shots off the cut line, after a 74.
Hill took full advantage of calmer conditions on Friday morning, carding 11 birdies in a bogey-free second round to reach the summit at 16-under.
The 31-year-old Scot matched the lowest score at the Royal Golf Club set by Brandon Robinson Thompson during the first round of this event last year.
That earned a four-shot lead for Hill over first-round joint leader Freddy Schott, who backed up his opening 65 with a 67 at 12-under, with France's Ugo Coussaud in solo third at nine-under.
Eleven players, including Sergio Garcia, were one shot further adrift in a share of fourth, while former Masters champion Patrick Reed was 10 off the pace.
