The rookie pair of Frenchman Julien Guerrier and England's Gary Boyd plus England's David Lynn are tied for the lead at nine-under par after two rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.
Guerrier, 25, shot a five under par 67 while 23-year-old Boyd, who lost out in a play-off for last week's Czech Open title, shot a 68. Lynn, 37, later joined the two rookies in also shooting a 68.
The trio are two shots clear of three other players Scotland's Marc Warren (70), England's Mark Foster (67) and South African George Coetzee (68).
England's Simon Dyson, who is striving to secure a place in the European Ryder Cup team, did his chances no harm in moving to a share of seventh place at six under par after a round of 70.
Dyson is currently four places outside of qualifying and will need to capture the Scottish event to ensure automatic selection for the event at Celtic Manor.
Also at six under par was Ireland's Paul McGinley (70) along with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Italy's Edoardo Molinari (68).
Jimenez was a late entry into the tournament as he looks to secure his place in the Ryder Cup team while Molinari is hoping a good showing in Scotland will help in earning a 'wildcard' pick.
Guerrier rose to fame in capturing the 2006 British Amateur championship.
The Evreux-born player comes from rich sporting pedigree. His grandfather was a fencing world champion; grandmother played basketball for France; his mother played basketball in the French First Division while his father played football in the French Second Division.
Guerrier turned professional straight after the 2007 Masters at Augusta.
But he said it was watching TV footage of Martin Kaymer's recent PGA Championship success that inspired him to one of his lowest scores of the season.
''I watched Martin Kaymer, 26 years old, make the fantastic title in the U.S. PGA and I said, he's a good player, but I'm a good striker and I can do it,'' said Guerrier.
''So I try to do it and don't try too much, just play your golf, play your best and go see the flag and play it. That's all.''
Missing from the closing two rounds will be European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie. who can now concentrate fully on his Sunday night choice of 'wildcard' picks.
''I just think it's super that everyone is performing to the best of their ability,'' said Montgomerie after scores of 71 and 76 for a three-over par tally.
''I can't please everybody, the only way I could do that was to pick 20 players but I have to leave out some good players, some winners. It's a good headache to have and it's the first time a European captain can use such terminology.
''I will go out on the course on Sunday. I'll be doing my homework on Saturday. I'll get on the computer so that I'm up to speed so that you can ask any questions you like and I will have the answers.''
