Nick Redfern carded a four-under-par 67 at West Malling to take a one-shot lead into the second and final day of the PGA Southern Masters.
Redfern, attached to Blue Canyon Country Club, leads the Order of Merit event from Tandridge's Michael Vandenberg but with 36 holes today after the cut was made for the top 30 and ties there is still a long way to go.
Richard Wallis (Princes) and Alan Lovelace (Merrist Wood) are in joint third, three strokes off the lead.
Craig Cowper, based at Surrey's World of Golf, is the leading challenger in the tournament from the Order of Merit race. He shot a one-over 72 to be joint 10th.
Hoebridge's Steve Cowle, currently second in the OoM, is two strokes further back but Order of Merit leader Gary Marks (World of Golf) crashed out with a seven-over 78 which was only good enough for a share of 50th place.