A stroke ahead after an opening 63, Hughes had four birdies and two bogeys in his afternoon round at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club on Friday.
"I'm in a good spot going into the weekend," Hughes said.
"There's a bunch of guys there with a chance. Nothing changes tomorrow. Just keep doing my thing and see where it puts me."
Chilean Del Solar rebounded from a bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-3 ninth. He shot a 67 in the afternoon to join Hughes at 10-under 132.
"I've been putting in the work, playing good golf, feeling more comfortable," Del Solar said.
"Happy to be where I am."
The winner of the PGA Tour event — held opposite a signature event at the Truist Championship this week — gets a spot in the PGA Championship if not already eligible.
That's not the case for Hughes, the two-time tour winner who already is in the field next week at Quail Hollow.
Nick Watney (67), the 44-year-old who hasn't won in 13 years, is a stroke back, along with fellow Americans, Danny Walker (67), Harry Higgs (66), Will Chandler (69) and Davis Shore (66).
Defending champion Chris Gotterup sits at five under after his one-under 70, while the only Australian in the field Aaron Baddeley had a 75 to miss the cut at five over.
With AAP.
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