SAMMAMISH (Washington), Aug 24: Robert Allenby shot a course-record eight-under-par 63 Friday to move into a tie for the lead with Steve Lowery after the second round of the NEC Invitational.

Building momentum from his 10th-place finish at last week’s PGA Championship, Allenby scorched the back nine at the Sahalee Country Club en route to the lowest round of his career.

Over the last eight holes, Allenby registered an eagle and five birdies to move to 10-under 132 for the tournament.

His previous low round was a 65 at the 2001 Greater Hartford Open.

Despite Allenby’s big day, Lowery gained a share of the lead with a solid six-under 65.

First-round co-leader Toshi Izawa of Japan ballooned to a 73 and is at four-under along with world number one and three-time defending champion Tiger Woods.

South African Retief Goosen is at nine-under after a 68, while England’s Justin Rose (67) is at eight-under and world number two Phil Mickelson (69) is one further back at seven-under.

Allenby shot a pedestrian one-under 34 on a front nine in which he left himself with lengthy birdie attempts.

He eagled the par-five 11th and then birdied five of the last six holes for an inward seven-under 29.

Allenby has been masterful around the Sahalee course, which hosted the 1998 PGA Championship.

He has hit 35 of 36 greens in regulation and just needed 27 putts in the second round.

The eagle may have been the turning point of his round. After a well-placed drive, Allenby decided to take a three-iron over the trees guarding the entrance to the green rather than a two-iron through the opening.

With his 65, Lowery maintained his month-long run of hot form.

In three of his four starts prior to this week, Lowery has finished second twice and tied for 10th at the PGA Championship.

Woods is trying to become the first player in nearly 70 years to win the same event four straight years.

Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen are the only players to have pulled off the feat.

Woods is well aware of the big names ahead of him.

Second round scores

132 Robert Allenby (Australia) 69 63, Steve Lowery 67 65

133 Retief Goosen (South Africa)

134 Justin Rose (Britain) 67 67

135 Phil Mickelson 66 69

136 Loren Roberts 70 66, Fred Funk 68 68

137 Jim Furyk 70 67, Craig Parry (Australia) 72 65, David Toms 69 68, Matt Gogel 68 69, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68 69, Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 68 69, Rocco Mediate 68 69, Lee Westwood (Britain) 68 69, Kenny Perry 67 70

138 Ernie Els (South Africa) 71 67, Tiger Woods 68 70, Craig Perks (New Zealand) 68 70, Chris DiMarco 68 70, Toshi Izawa (Japan)