Swede David Lingmerth says it feels "surreal" to be top of the Australian PGA Championship after two windswept rounds at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.
Lingmerth is one stroke clear, sitting on three-under-par after his four-under 68 on Friday and sits atop a leaderboard largely dominated by internationals.
Backing up from his first round effort on what he described as a "crazy" first day, Lingmerth made six birdies and appears to be one of few golfers with a good handle on the new-look course and the windy conditions.
But the world No.49 said he still didn't feel confident with six players just one shot behind him at two-under.
"I know that I've won on the PGA Tour, probably the strongest tour in the world and I know I can do it," Lingmerth said.
"Of course that gives me some confidence going into the weekend but at the same time, these are all players that can shoot seven, eight under, both rounds out there over the weekend.
"I'm going to have to play very well to win but I do feel like I should have a good shot."
Lingmerth said he was disappointed top drawcard Brandt Snedeker failed to make the cut, the 34-year-old American crashing out with an awful 15-over-par for the tournament.
"I want to beat him really bad ... but you want to beat the best players at their best, that's what gives you confidence and strength," he said.
The best-placed Australian is Canberra's Matthew Millar, who is one of the six players tied for second along with South African pair Dylan Frittelli and Zander Lombard, Englishman Mark Foster, American Peter Uihlein and Spain's Pablo Martin Benavides.
The day's best performance came from US-based Aussie Rhein Gibson, the New South Welshman shooting a course record eight-under-par 64 to be two shots off the lead at one-under.
Gibson set the course alight despite starting with back-to-back bogeys but got it going on the ninth with the first of his two eagles for the day as he went nine under through his final 10 holes.
The course record just another day out for Gibson, the holder of a Guinness World Record for the best score ever recorded - a 16-under-par 55 he carded in an out-of-competition round with friends in Oklahoma three years ago.
"To be able to do that on a Friday to make the cut and get back in contention, it's probably better than a 55," said Gibson, level with four others in eighth place.
Among those to miss the cut along with Snedeker included defending champion Greg Chalmers and Masters winner Peter Senior.
Pre-tournament favourite John Senden, who had a shocker on the greens and twice found the water in his five-over round, was fortunate to finish the round on the right side of the cut-line, but did so only just.
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