Robert Allenby birdied three of the last four holes to join Loren Roberts and Craig Stadler at the head of the Houston Open leaderboard after the second round in Texas.
Allenby and Roberts, who recovered from bogeying the first two holes, added five-under-par 67s to their opening 68s for a halfway total of nine under 135.
Stadler birdied three of the last five holes for a 69 to join them on that mark.
Joint first-round leader Carlos Franco is one of seven golfers just one shot back in fourth after a 71, but Hank Kuehne, who also carded a 65 on day one, slipped back down the field with a 74.
Ireland's Keith Nolan, who had opened with a promising 70, slipped back yesterday with a three-over-par 75 to finish on 145 and miss the cut.
Of the others on 136, Scott Hoch made the biggest forward move with a flawless 65, in which four of his seven birdies came on the final holes.
Paul Stankowski (69), Fred Funk (69), Matt Gogel (68), Mark Brooks (67) and Dave Stockton jr (69) are also on the heels of the three leaders.
Kuehne is trying to restart his career after alcohol rehabilitation. The brother of LPGA player Kelli Kuehne began on the back nine and fired four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th before reaching the front side.
