Overnight leader Lucas Herbert opened up a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Irish Open, carding 67 in the second round on Friday to go 13-under at the Mount Juliet Estate in Thomastown.
Having carded an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to set the clubhouse target, the Australian was three behind in the second round when he found the water on the third hole for a double bogey.
But he sank eight birdies in all to lead England's Andy Sullivan and Scotland's Grant Forrest who were tied for second.
"It was a little frustrating but I also felt like I did pretty well to scrap 67 out of that," Herbert said.