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MADEIRA, Portugal -- Daniel Vancsik of Argentina shot a 6-under 66 Friday for a one-shot lead halfway through the BPI Madeira Islands Open, a small event on the European Tour.

Vancsik had five birdies and eagled the 11th hole on his way to a 10-under 134 on the hilltop Santo da Serra Golf Club course. He's one shot better than Frenchman Christian Cevaer, who tied veteran South African David Frost for the low round of the day with a 65.

Santiago Luna of Spain is two shots off the lead after a 67. Frost is alone in fourth.

Notah Begay of the United States had four birdies over his final eight holes to finish with a 71, and is tied for fifth with Alexander Noren of Sweden and Mads Vibe-Hastrup of Denmark.

Defending champion Jean Van de Velde recovered from a first-round 75 with a 67, and is eight shots back.

Vancsik, a 30-year-old South American who did not manage a single top-10 finish in his first full season on the circuit last year, reached 10 under par by adding a 66 to his opening 68.

Cevaer, whose only victory in more than 250 European Tour events came at the 2004 Spanish Open, was heading for a best-of-the-day 64 and a share of top spot until he finished with a bogey 5.

In third place on 8 under after a 67 is 44-year-old Spaniard Santiago Luna, playing the 520th event of his Tour career and his first of this year. Luna won the title, his only one, back in 1995.

First-round pacesetter Ricardo Santos fell back into the pack, while former Ryder Cup star Peter Baker could add only a 72 to his first-day 67 and so left himself five strokes to make up over the weekend.

Former British Open champion Paul Lawrie missed the cut on 4 over.

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