Hometown hope Rafael Compos held onto the lead at the Puerto Rico Open as Ian Poulter charged and Australian Aaron Baddeley held firm during round two.
Compos shot a one-under 71 to keep the lead and finish the round nine-under for the tournament in windy conditions, while Baddeley, who was tied for third at the end of the opening round dropped to a tie for tenth after an even-par second round.
The 35-year-old Australian struggled early, starting on the back nine, Baddeley made bogeys at his opening two holes and added a double on the par-three 16th hole, to be out in three-over 39.
He turned things around on the back nine though, making four birdies and a bogey on his way in to stay in contention, three shots behind leader Compos.
The 27-year-old Puerto Rican is the first from his country to lead a PGA Tour event since the 1979 Tallahassee Open, when Chi Chi Rodriguez was tied for the 54-hole lead and went on to win his eighth and final title.
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"It's great just having so much support, so many people coming out here and following us," Compos said.
"I love seeing the little kids, I love seeing the parents and all that. They're the future of golf.
"It really does feel great to be in this position," he said.
"I really feel very relaxed out there. Not really thinking of my swing, I'm not really thinking of the problems out there, I'm actually enjoying it. I like being in this position, I really do."
Poulter, who failed to qualify for the WGC Match Play in Austin, Texas is playing the event for the first time and had the low round of the day, a six-under 66
The Englishman fired in six birdies in a bogey-free round, he opened and finished with three straight birdies and is in a six-way tie for third at seven-under, one shot behind second-placed American George McNeill.
"I had to stay patient," Poulter said.
"Opening up with three birdies first thing this morning was nice. It was easy to get a little bit frustrated yesterday not making putts I would have expected to hole. ... To close with three birdies there was good and it kind of moves me up the board quite nicely."
Defending champion Alex Cejka and Americans Steve Marino, Bronson Burgoon, Kyle Reifers , Mark Hubbard and Will MacKenzie are the men level with Poulter.
Australians Cameron Percy (four-under), Cameron Smith and Rod Pampling (both three-under) will join Baddeley in playing at the weekend.
Jarrod Lyle, Robert Allenby, Greg Chalmers, Rhein Gibson and Mark Hensby all missed the cut, Lyle shooting an unfortunate seven-over 79 after opening with a one-under 71.
