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 8-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.