Luca Cianchetti is eyeing a repeat at Walton Heath

He is tied with his fellow countryman Lorenzo Scalise, who held the lead after an opening-round 64 but backed up in round two with a 75. On Friday, Scalise had the low round of the day, a seven-under 65 that allowed him to climb 18 spots and into a tie for the top spot.

Scalise and Cianchetti are joined by Jeremy Gandon of France, who shot a bogey-free 67.

Last year, Cianchetti won a dramatic playoff over Viktor Hovland when the tournament was held in Estonia. This year he has done all of his scoring on the back nine, where he is 12-under for those 27 holes.

Scoring remains low at the normally difficult Walton Heath Golf Club, with eight players at double digits under par and within two shots of the lead.

Alfie Plant of England shot a 67 to move into solo fourth at 11-under 205. Four players are tied for fifth at 10-under 206, including Australian Dylan Perry, who came so close to winning last week's British Amateur at Royal St. George's.

The cut was an amazingly low two-under 214, with the low 60 and ties at or below that number.

The low American in the field is Sean Crocker of Long Beach, CA and Southern Cal, who shot a six-under 66 to get to three-under 213. The only other American to make the cut was Jimmy Stanger of Tampa, FL and the University of Virginia, who sits at two-under 214.

The European Amateur is the premier amateur tournament in Europe, whose past winners include Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia. Play concludes Saturday with the fourth and final round of stroke play.

The winner of the 2017 European Championship will earn a spot in The 146th Open at Royal Birkdale in July.