Carl Mason looks the man to beat at the weekend after carding a second successive 67 at Stoke by Nayland.
The prolific Mason, who has 17 European Seniors Tour titles to his name, stands at 10 under par for the championship after a flawless display at Stoke by Nayland with five birdies and no bogeys on his card.
Snapping at his heels is Argentinean Luis Carbonetti who shot a six under par 66 but defending champion Sam Torrance's hopes of a third title appear to have disappeared after a 74.
Mason, winner of the PGA Seniors Championship in 2004, was quickly into his stride with birdies at holes two and three and was delighted with his display on what is tricky track, punctuated with hard fairways and fast greens.
"I made a couple of good saves which you are going to do out there because it's very bouncy, unless you can hit it straight all the time you are going to have a few problems because it is fiery," he said.
"It's playing tricky with fairways very lively so you have to be very careful. Certain holes you hit it slightly off line and you can be in all sorts of trouble. Touch wood I've managed to avoid most of that."
Mason, buoyed by his win at Woburn last week, is relishing the weekend and the prospect of leading from the front doesn't worry him.
"It will be a good weekend and I'm quite happy with it - I've done it a lot for the last few years.
"There's more pressure, but you trust yourself, trust your swing and get on with it.
"I haven't got to do anything fantastic, everybody else is feeling the pressure so just play a steady game and do the right things."
Carbonetti sits a shot back from Mason and was the early clubhouse leader after sinking eight birdies on the way to a 66.
The Argentinean, who finished runner up to Sam Torrance last year, followed up his first round 69 with a scoring blitz including successive birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Although he dropped shots on seven and 12, the 54-year-old was delighted with his form claiming further birdies on holes one, three, eight and 10.
"My putting was good today, I had many birdies and hit the ball really well," he said.
"The course was easier today and I think there will be some good scores.
"I played well here last year - it's a good course for me."
Six shots back on four under par is current US Senior PGA champion Denis Watson who carded another two under par 70 but is convinced he's got two low rounds to come over the weekend.
"It was bizarre. I played great for eight holes then I was over the edge of every hole it seemed, then hit a bad tee shot at nine and made a bogey," he said.
"Hit another shot left ended up on cart path against a bush made another bogey, was in the mole hills on the par five 14th, in the woods at 15 but chipped out and made an unbelievable par then screwed up the next three.
"I feel like I can get two good scores out of it. I hit a lot of junk out there today
Bramhall PGA pro Richard Green was basking in the relief of making the cut having missed out last year by one shot.
Starting the day at four over, Green got back to one over par for the tournament with a three under par 69.
"I'm absolutely chuffed," he admitted. "It was a little bit nerve wracking but I got myself very quickly into a chance of making the cut.
"The crucial one was the birdie at 10 that got me to three under and one over for the tournament. I then had a three at 13 which was a five iron stiff and then it was just a matter of bringing it in really.
"Unfortunately I did play the last few holes a bit negatively but just wanted to be here tomorrow.
"I'm a full time club pro, played in Seniors British Open and Senior Club pros where I finished second which qualified me for this.
"I missed the cut here by one last year so I'm pleased to make the weekend and just want to relax and push myself up the leaderboard and see how good or bad I am.
"I like the course, it's not too long for me. I like the greens even though they can make you look stupid."