Arizona-based Aussie Steve Allan seized the lead at the Sony Open on Friday with an eight-under-par 62 that included a closing eagle, completing his best round as a professional for a one-stroke advantage. Allan finished his round with a flourish at the par-five ninth, where he landed a six-iron within 30 feet and made the putt.
Allan was finished long before prodigy Michelle Wie even teed off, and his 11-under 129 through 36 holes was one stroke better than Harrison Frazar. Defending champion Ernie Els trailed by two, with Luke Donald three shots back.
The top four all played in the morning, leaving the spotlight for 14-year-old Wie, the schoolgirl phenomenon who shot an astonishing 68 but missed the cut by one stroke. Unlike last year, when Els started the season with victories at the first two events, he has taken a while to warm to his task this time. He took all of December off, barely touching a club, to recover from the rigors of a long year that included a tense, emotionally draining play-off with Tiger Woods at the Presidents Cup.
Allan, the 2002 Australian Open champion, did his damage early and late in his round. He birdied his first three holes, and also picked up three shots in his final three as he finished birdie, par, eagle.
14-year-old Michelle Wie defied the expectations of virtually everyone except herself, missing the cut by just one stroke as she became the first woman to break par in a PGA Tour round. Wie needed an eagle at the par-five 18th to advance to the weekend but didn't realize it, thinking a birdie would get her there. She duly made birdie after her 80-foot eagle chip nestled four feet from the pin for a two-under-par 68.
Dungannon's Darren Clarke also failed to make the cut after returning a second round 69 to leave him on level par 140 at the half-way stage.
Filed by Shane Murray
