Michael Allen shot a seven-under 63 on Friday and broke away from the pack for a 5-stroke lead after the second round of the US Senior Open.
Allen was among seven players who shared the first-round lead at three-under. He birdied five of the first eight holes and eagled the par-5 14th while shooting his best round of the year at the par-70 Omaha Country Club.
Allen’s 36-hole lead is the largest in the event’s 34-year history.
Rocco Mediate, at five-under, is his closest pursuer. Mediate finished with 14 straight pars while shooting a bogey-free 67. Jeff Sluman, who also shot 67, is at four-under after missing an 8-foot par putt on the 18th.
Peter Fowler and Steve Elkington are the leading Australians at even par and a share of 10th place.
Peter Senior is a shot further back.
Allen was short with his birdie putt on the last hole, ending his bid to match the US Senior Open record of 62 by Loren Roberts at Prairie Dunes in 2006.
The 54-year-old Allen never won in 394 starts on the regular tour, but he has four victories since joining the Champions Tour four years ago, including the 2009 Senior PGA Championship.
He had top-10 finishes in the US Senior Open in 2010-11 and tied for 33rd last year. His game has been on the upswing lately. He won the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic in March and came to Omaha with three top-10 finishes in his last four events.
It looked as if Allen and Mediate would match birdies early. Mediate had three in four holes to start the afternoon and took a brief lead.
But Allen, playing in the group behind him, pulled away. He hit every green in regulation while going out in 30 and made the turn with a 3-shot lead.
Allen’s strength is his irons, and he was hitting them purely on the front nine, seemingly oblivious to the gusty winds and the course’s elevation changes.
The eagle at 14 was timely, for it came after he started to struggle a bit.
He hit his second shot onto the bottom shelf of the two-tiered 14th green. With his long putter anchored to his chest, there was no threat of Allen coming up short on the 50-foot uphill putt. The ball went up the ridge, hit the back of the cup, popped up and dropped in.
Defending champion Roger Chapman was among the players who missed the cut. He followed his first-round 74 with a 76.