Brendan Lawlor and Kipp Popert look set for a final-day showdown at the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn.
The two leading players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) are separated by just a single stroke going into the final 18 holes over the Duchess Course.
Lawlor, the world number two, missed chances with his putter in a two-over-par second round of 74 yet still signed for an impressive level-par total after 36 holes.
The Irishman, who has a rare condition called Ellis–van Creveld syndrome, characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, competed on the DP World Tour in Japan last month and is seeking his first G4D Tour title to go alongside his numerous wins on the EDGA Tour.
“I hit it so good again today," said Lawlor of his performance in the second round.
"I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. I had a few silly three-putts and a lot of putts from inside five feet I missed. So probably looking back on my round I could be five shots better. That's just golf.
"All you can do is play yourself in contention for tomorrow and hopefully they will drop then.
“I didn't really look at the leaderboard but Kipp's one behind so you never know it could turn into a match play situation pretty easily tomorrow.”
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World number one Popert dropped three shots in his first four holes but, like his opening round, the 24-year-old recovered on the back nine to post a three-over 75 and end day two on one over.
The Englishman, who was born with a form of Cerebral Palsy called Spastic Diplegia, has won five times on the G4D Tour since its inception last year and will chase another notable victory on Friday.
“I felt I scored well," reflected Popert. "It was a grind. I got up-and-down. I played in the trees a lot, chipped out a lot.
"So yeah, to come off there with three-over, I’m still in it. All I needed to do was to be around the lead. I've won from behind before and I've won from ahead before. I like competing and that's why I'm here.”
On an improved weather day after thunderstorms interrupted day one, Italian Tommaso Perrino and Juan Postigo Arce from Spain, the world number four, are the closest challengers to the leading pair on six-over-par.
Perrino has signed for two rounds of 75, with fellow G4D Tour winner Postigo dropping back after his 79 which featured two double bogeys.
“The Duchess I like so much because it is a course that is good for me, especially my driver," said Perrino.
"I’ve missed one driver in four days and it is a course that if you place the driver it is not too difficult."
Rasmus Lia from Sweden and Ireland’s Conor Stone are next on the international leaderboard at eight-over. Players from ten countries or territories are represented in the top ten after the second round.
While Lawlor and Popert are both professionals, the championship, held in partnership between The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association), is one of the most inclusive ever staged.
A field of 80 male and female amateur and professional golfers are competing across nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with players represented from 17 countries.
An overall winner will be determined at the end of the three rounds on Friday, along with an opposite sex winner and a gross prize in each category.
