Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose played sparkling golf to move into the joint lead of the Thailand Golf Championship on Friday after the second round at Amata Spring Country Club.
Garcia fired a sizzling seven-under-par 65 which included a hole-in-one at the eighth, while Rose shot an accomplished 68 as the duo reached 11-under for the tournament.
Rose and Garcia are two strokes ahead of overnight leader Alex Cejka of Germany, France's Alexander Levy and India's Anirban Lahiri, who shot the day's lowest score - an eight-under 64. A further stroke behind was America's Rickie Fowler.
Pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson improved on his opening round with a 67 to move into joint seventh place with a cluster of players including Australian Andrew Dodt after a second-round 65, Thailand's leading contender Kiradech Aphibarnrat and India's Sujjan Singh.
"It was a wonderful day," said a happy Garcia who in addition to his hole-in-one, sank five birdies. "The hole-in-one was an extra bonus. It is always an exciting feeling," said Garcia. It was his third ace in tournament play.
Garcia, who has his girlfriend on the bag, said he felt comfortable with his form. "I've been playing well both days," he said. "But there are still two days to go."
Rose said he was pleased with his score despite a rather shaky beginning. "It was a funny round," he said. "I got off to a slow start," which included a bogey at the third.
"I had more trouble reading the greens today and was fortunate to make some big putts to save par."
Fowler celebrated his 25th birthday in the best possible way with a 66, featuring a string of birdies on the back nine.
"I finally got things going and hit some better putts," he said. "It was nice to finish off strong."
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa was well down the field in joint 19th after a 73.
