Sergio Garcia created a start to get within two shots of this lead in Amsterdam.
The former Masters winner posted four birdies at a 68 to sit in the group four under and two strokes straight from first-round leader Callum Shinkwin.
Garcia, trying to join with the likes of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal as champions of the event, started on the back nine opened with successive birdies on his way .
Even the 15-time European Tour winner uttered a 30-footer in the par-four first and rolled to close the gap on Shinkwin, who birdied two of the final three holes to place a six-under 66 and top the leaderboard.
“Conditions got a small bit trickier over the previous six or seven holes, so I was quite pleased with that,” Garcia said. “I’ll keep working hard like I have been doing and hopefully I will have an opportunity this weekend”
Shinkwin, 126th at the Rush to Dubai, reached the turn in 32 courtesy of three birdies, a eagle and a single lost shot.
English trio Chris Paisley, Sam Horsfield and Matthew Southgate sit a shot off the pace on five below alongside Scotland’s Marc Warren, Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and also Malaysia’s Gavin Green, together using one time leader James Morrison from the group two off the rate with Garcia.
Defending champion Wu Ashun is under alongside house favourite Joost Luiten, that recovered by being three-over-par at the turn to get within three of their lead, while Patrick Reed submitted a 72.
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