Jason Dufner, chasing his third title of the season, fired a bogey-free 64 on Friday to seize a two-shot lead in the USPGA Tour’s US$6.4 million Colonial.
Dufner’s six-under-par effort gave him a 36-hole total of 11-under 129.
He was two strokes ahead of leader Zach Johnson, who followed up his opening 64 with a 67, for 131.
The US’ Bo Van Pelt and Tommy Gainey were equal third on seven-under 133.
Van Pelt also posted a 64, while Gainey carded a 67.
Dufner, fresh off a victory in the Byron Nelson Classic in nearby Irving last week, will be trying to join legendary Ben Hogan as the only players to win both USPGA Tour events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the same year.
In 1946, Hogan won the Colonial and the Dallas Invitational, which became the Byron Nelson Classic.
Dufner would be the first player to win the tour’s North Texas tournaments in consecutive weeks.
He said he would “hopefully continue to play some good golf and maybe make a little bit of history.”
Dufner broke through for his first US tour title in his 163rd start on April 29, with a playoff victory at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.
He was married the following weekend, then joined Hunter Mahan as this year’s only repeat winners by taking the Byron Nelson crown.
He has led or shared the lead after 11 of his last 34 rounds.
On Friday, he teed off on 10 and birdied the par-three 13th and par-four 17th, before launching a run of three straight birdies at the par-five first.
He grabbed one more birdie at the par-four fifth hole.
Johnson launched his round with an eagle at the par-five first, where he drained an 18-foot putt. He made a 12-footer at the second for the first of his four birdies, but also had three bogeys.
US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love also missed the cut, as did Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.
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