La Jolla, CA (Best E Casino) - It took a while for Kevin Streelman to fully realize the position he was in.

And just like that, he was gone.

Streelman made an early triple-bogey in the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday to lose his share of the lead, and he never fully recovered. He shot a six-over 77 and tumbled six shots off the number still held by his overnight co-leader, Justin Hicks.

"You need to take your medicine," said Streelman.

He sent an errant tee shot into a bunker at the par-three third, blasted his second over the green and walked off with a six that left him three shots behind Hicks, who teed off in the afternoon.

Streelman caught his tee shot heavy, and knew immediately it would land in the bunker. What he didn't know was how deep the ball would be in the sand.

"It was an unfortunate lie," he said. "I could have stepped on it and it wouldn't have been that bad."

Streelman also double-bogeyed No. 6, but rebounded with birdies at the seventh and ninth holes. The last one came on a 15-foot putt. He went on to play the back nine at three-over par, but still looked like a lock to make the cut at three-over 145.

Streelman, ranked 608th in the world, was just fine with that.

"Thursday morning I would have taken three-over at a U.S. Open through two rounds," he said. "I'm a little disappointed how I played today, but hopefully it's my bad round and I'll make a move tomorrow."

While Streelman was losing ground on Friday, several players were gaining it.

D.J. Trahan, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic winner, needed just 26 putts on the way to shooting a two-under 69 that left him two shots off the lead held by Hicks.

"It was a good day," said Trahan, who was at one-under 141.

Davis Love III, forced to qualify this year, also posted an early 69 to join Trahan as the early clubhouse leaders.

Luke Donald had a second consecutive 71 and was among a very good group at even-par 142 that included 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (73), two-time winner Ernie Els (72) and Robert Allenby (72).

The featured threesome of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott were set to tee off in the afternoon.

Mickelson fared best among the top-three players in the world rankings on Thursday, posting an up-and-down 71. Woods had a 72 and Scott posted a 73.

"Wait till I hit it well," said Mickelson.