Carl Mason and Bruce Heuchan fired successive 67s at Stoke by Nayland Club to remain tied at the top as the PGA Seniors Championship reached the halfway stage.
The pair lead Latin favourites Costantino Rocca and Luis Carbonetti who are both sitting a stroke further back after six under par 66s.
South African John Bland and Scot Ross Drummond are at eight under with Jim Rhodes on six under but defending champion Sam Torrance's hopes of adding a third championship were effectively dashed by a two over par 74.
But Mason's hopes remain very much alive and with three titles under his belt already this season looks the man to beat.
"It's playing tricky with fairways very lively so you have to be very careful," he said.
"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."
"It will be a good weekend and I'm quite happy with leading from the front - I've done it a lot for the last few years," he added.
"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."
Heuchan was again pleased with his form but paid little attention to the leaderboard.
"I just focused on my own game," he said.
"The fairways have firmed up but the greens are superb so I've got no complaints. I really pleased to put two good rounds together."
Rocca was also happy after a 66 and will be out to avenge his play-off defeat to Mason at Woburn last week.
"I left four or five putts short but I holed some good ones," he said.
"If I continue to play like this I have a chance. It's important not to miss on the holes you don't need to miss like I did yesterday."
Carbonetti, who finished runner up to Torrance last year, reeled off successive birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16.
"My putting was good today, I had many birdies and hit the ball really well," he said.
Six shots back off the lead is reigning US Senior PGA champion Denis Watson who carded another two under par 70 but is convinced there's more to come.
"I feel like I can get two good scores out of it. I hit a lot of junk out there today," he said.
Meanwhile Cheshire pro Richard Green from Bramhall Golf Club was savouring the experience of making the cut after missing out last year by one shot, putting right an opening 76 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.
"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."
Yorkshire pro Richard Masters also carded a 69 and the Baildon Golf Club pro is beginning to enjoy himself after a tense start.
"It was a bit nervy because you are playing in a good quality field and a very important tournament but I was better today," he said.
"I had a nice swing thought today and it worked well and if I can play two rounds with that same feeling will see what happens."