Defending champion Adam Scott and American world No.8 Matt Kuchar are within striking distance of the lead during their second rounds in the Australian Masters.
Scott started Friday’s round with birdies on Royal Melbourne’s first three holes to move to seven under par.
But his momentum dried up with pars on the next eight holes to have him still on that score 11 holes into his round.
That left him still two shots behind the clubhouse leader, 22-year-old Victorian Nathan Holman.
First round leader South Australian Nick Cullen was tied for second on eight under with another Victorian Matthew Griffin, with both having also completed their rounds.
Holman, who is playing just his fifth event as a professional, and Griffin both live within minutes of the course and both shot six-under-par rounds of 65 on Friday.
Kuchar, the highest-ranked player in the field after US Masters champion Scott, also made a big move on Friday.
He birdied the first four holes and picked up six shots in all on the front nine, which he completed in 29 shots.
Kuchar then parred the 10th to leave him at six under par, three shots behind Holman, in fifth place, after starting the day even with the card.
Earlier, Jarrod Lyle backed up his opening round one-over-par 72 with a 71 on Friday morning to leave himself one over at the tournament’s halfway mark.
That means he’ll achieve his pre-event aim of making the cut in what is his first professional event in 20 months, after surviving cancer for the second time in his life.