Marcus Fraser has a share of the lead at 13-under going into the weekend of the Italian Open, joining England's Matt Wallace at the top of the leaderboard.
Wallace had a six-way share of the lead after the first round and solidified his place at the top with a 65 at Golf Club Milano on Friday.
But Australia's Fraser was the star of the day, shooting a career-best 62 to earn his place at the summit with a blemish-free card of nine-under-par.
"I felt like I've putted well and scrambled well this week. Today I took it to a new level with the putter," Fraser, who put together a streak of five successive birdies between holes eight and 12, told EuropeanTour.com.
"I felt like I putted well yesterday and I probably outdid it today. I'm pretty proud of myself and it's quite reassuring that I still can play golf."
Jamie Donaldson of Wales and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat lie two shots off the leading pair after hitting matching 67s, both men capping their card with eagle threes, at the ninth and 14 respectively.
Defending champion and home favourite Francesco Molinari was also circling the business end of the leaderboard, sitting three strokes back on 10-under.
Molinari was among the day-one leaders but while he picked up six birdies, his charge was tempered by three bogeys.
Master champion Sergio Garcia heads a five-strong group tied for sixth.
Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn is among those set to miss the projected cut of two-under, a fate shared by the elder Molinari brother Edoardo, Martin Kaymer, Oliver Fisher, Padraig Harrington and Danny Willett.
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