BRISBANE, Nov 16: Defending champion Robert Allenby shot a three-under par 69 in the second round of the Australian PGA Championship on Friday to retain a one-stroke lead.

Allenby, 30, who held a single-shot lead after his first round of seven-under 65, had two birdies, an eagle and a bogey on Friday to stand on 10-under 134 at the halfway mark of the A$1million ($520,000) tournament.

The Australian world number 26 held off challenges from Australia’s Craig Parry, who had a 65 in the second round, and New Zealand’s Richard Lee, with a 67, who surged to equal second place on nine-under 135.

Allenby holed a 35-foot putt for eagle on the par-five 17th but immediately gave a shot back with a bogey five on the par-four 18th hole.

Australia’s Peter Lonard (70-66) and John Senden (69-67) were a further shot behind in equal fourth place on eight-under 136.

Former world number one Greg Norman could not capitalise on his promising first round of 68, following up with a one-over par 73 on Friday to be seven shots behind Allenby.

Norman had a mixed round including three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey six on the 18th hole.

Second round scores:

134 Robert Allenby 65 69

135 Craig Parry 70 65, Richard Lee (New Zealand) 68 67

136 Peter Lonard 70 66, John Senden 69 67

137 Geoff Ogilvy 71 66, Ernie Rose 68 69, Matthew Goggin 66 71

138 David McKenzie 72 66, Anthony Painter 70 68, Brad Kennedy 69 69, David Hill 71 67, Nick O’Hern 68 70, Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) 68 70

139 David Gleeson 70 69, Peter Senior 71 68, Reon Sayer (New Zealand) 69 70, Andrew Tschudin 69 70, Brendan Jones 71 68, David Diaz 71 68.—Reuters