Alejandro Canizares overcame a slow start to card a 2-under 70 on Friday and keep his one-stroke lead after the second round of the Austrian Open.
The Spaniard is 7 under overall, while former top-ranked Martin Kaymer (70) and John Catlin (70) share second place.
Both Canizares and Kaymer are after their first win in seven years. Kaymer won the U.S. Open in 2014, his second major triumph.
Catlin won twice on the European Tour last year.
Hampered by cold conditions, Canizares dropped three shots in his opening two holes when he bogeyed the par-four 10th and had a double on the 11th.