Dan Erickson birdied the last to take the outright lead after two rounds of the weather-affected Porsche Singapore Classic.
Related: Armitage, Jordan lead Porsche Singapore Classic
The American was among the late starters on Day Two, which took place on Saturday after the tournament was reduced to 54 holes following Thursday’s washout, as he carded a brilliant 64 to reach the summit at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Erickson rolled in nine birdies and one dropped shot to catapult himself one ahead of a logjammed leaderboard, where 25 players are within four shots of his 11-under-par advantage.
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The 26-year-old graduated from Q-School in November to earn his DP World Tour, but had only made the cut on one of his three starts so far this season.
After a three-under 69 on Friday, Erickson soon moved to six under after birdieing each of his first three holes in round two. He followed that up with another at the fifth before bogeying the seventh for the second day in a row to remain at six under.
The World Number 1370 hit back immediately at the eighth to get back on the birdie trail, but he had to wait until the 13th where he climbed up to eight under.
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Another followed at the 14th and when he holed out a stunning long putt at the 16th, he joined the clubhouse leaders at ten under.
Erickson moved ahead on his own as he showed nerves of steel to roll in his ninth birdie to record the joint-lowest round of the day and move one clear.
Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who was the sole leader at 11 under before a bogey at the ninth – his last hole – saw him drop back, Adrien Saddier, Matthew Jordan, Fabrizio Zanotti and Richard Mansell are all locked at ten under with a fascinating 18 holes remaining.
English duo Jordan Smith and Marcus Armitage and Spaniard Manuel Elvira round off the top ten at nine under.
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Amateur Brayden Lee, the only Singaporean in the field, needed a birdie at the last to reach the final round, but had to settle for par as he missed the cut.
Player quotes
Dan Erickson: “It was a great round out there. It was a combination of everything, some good breaks, good shots and good putting all around.
“The course just seems to be in favour with my game. The bigger greens, slopey greens and the par-five holes are more reachable, but it takes two good shots to get there so that definitely fits my game. The look of the course reminds me of the American-style courses which makes me feel right at home.
“I will go with the same game plan. I am sure there will be a lot of nerves, but I will just try to soak it all in, try to learn a lot while playing and have a good experience while sticking to what I have been doing so far.
“The memory of calling my parents a few months ago after getting my score card actually passed my mind on the course. You try not to think about it, but you just do and I was like, if you would have told me in October that I was going to be near the lead in the Porsche Singapore Classic and going to the last round, I would have thought you guys were on drugs or something.
