Morgan Hoffmann showed no signs of letting go of his first PGA Tour lead, moving three shots clear at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
After learning of the death of his grandmother on Thursday morning, Hoffman responded by climbing to the top of the leaderboard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge - and he followed his hot start up on Friday with a seven-under 65.
Hoffmann, 25, began the day with a bogey on the first, but he quickly waved away any fears he would slip down the leaderboard - with six birdies in seven holes to reach the turn at five under.
Another three birdies and a bogey on his back nine saw him to a strong position in Orlando, Florida, although Hoffmann has two of the best three golfers in the world hot on his tail heading to the weekend.
Among a trio tied for second is Henrik Stenson, the world number three posting a round of 66 - with defending champion Matt Every and Harris English joining the Swede in shooting 68-66 in the opening two rounds to be three back at 10 under.
Ben Martin (67) is outright fifth on nine under, while world number one Rory McIlroy shot 26 places up the leaderboard on Friday after shooting 66.
McIlroy, at eight-under overall, was bogey free through 16 holes in his second round, and had hit five straight birdies from the second through to the sixth holes.
But a bogey at eight saw McIlroy fall five shots behind leader Hoffmann.
Level with the Northern Irishman, Danny Lee (64), David Lingmerth (67) and Matt Jones (65) are tied for sixth.
Major winner Louis Oosthuizen (68) is among a group of six tied for 10th, alongside Ian Poulter (70), Sean O'Hair (68), Brooks Koepka (66), Kevin Na (70) and Blayne Barber (65).