Downes still up despite Allan charge

Defending champion Stephen Allan hit a course-record 66 but it was not enough to wrestle the lead in the Australian Open away from overnight leader Chris Downes.

Allan notched five birdies in the final seven holes to move to within a shot of Downes, who recorded a 70 and a two-round total of seven-under-par 137.

American Ricky Barnes, the 2002 US Amateur champion, is also just one shot off the lead after a second consecutive 69.

Downes’ title bid appeared to be coming off the rails when three bogeys in four holes from the seventh had him two over for the day and back to three under overall.

But a hat-trick of birdies at 12, 13 and 14 and another at the closing hole completed a solid round, lifting him to seven under.

At five under and sharing fifth place are Nathan Green, Peter Senior – last week’s winner of the Australian PGA at Coolum, and Michael Wright.

After a bogey at three, Senior had two birdies on the front nine and three more on the way in as he carded a four-under 68, Wright also fired a 68 which featured seven birdies but a number of bogeys as well, while Green had three birdies and a bogey for a 70.