Milwaukee, WI (Best E Casino) - Nick Flanagan fired a seven-under 63 and Richard S. Johnson posted a three-under 67 on Friday to share the lead after two rounds of the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
Flanagan and Johnson are tied atop the leaderboard at 10-under-par 130.
Gavin Coles fired an eight-under 62 to jump into a share of third place at minus-nine. He was joined there by Kent Jones, who shot five-under 65 on Friday at Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
Ken Duke and Troy Matteson are tied for sixth at eight-under-par 132.
Defending champion Joe Ogilvie is one of seven players tied for seventh at minus-seven after carding 67 in the second round.
Flanagan dropped his approach to 10 feet at the first and rolled that in for birdie. He converted a 15-footer for birdie on four and came right back with a 10-foot birdie putt on five.
At the short par-four ninth, Flanagan knocked his approach to 15 feet and made that for birdie.
Flanagan opened the back nine with five straight pars before two-putting for birdie on the par-five 15th.
The Australian drained a 10-footer for birdie on 17, then two-putted for birdie on 18 to grab a share of the 36-hole lead for the first time in his PGA Tour career.
"I didn't really mis-hit a shot in my first five holes," Flanagan said. "Just middle of greens and a couple of putts that lipped out. For once, I stayed patient and knew I had a couple of easy -- well, easier par-fours and par- fives to come in -- and got through that with a couple more birdies and then just really, really played well on the back."
Johnson parred three straight to start his round. At the 13th, he ran home a long birdie putt to get his round going.
The Swede two-putted for birdie on 15, but gave that stroke back with a three- putt bogey from the back fringe at 17.
Johnson stuck his approach within four feet at the first and he kicked that in for birdie. He grabbed a share of the lead with an up-and-down birdie on the sixth before he parred the last three holes to finish at minus-10.
"It's always hard to follow up a real low round, but I played better today, actually, than I did yesterday," Johnson admitted. "I just didn't get that many putts to drop today. It was really nice to go out today and feel that you can still shoot a low round when you played well yesterday."
Ogilvie was joined was joined in seventh place by Steve Flesch (67), Brandt Jobe (65), Jason Dufner (63), Jason Gore (66), Patrick Sheehan (68) and Ryan Armour (63).
Kenny Perry, who has won three of his last five starts, shot a 68 and was tied for 27th place at five-under 135. Perry skipped the British Open to play this event.
The cut line fell at two-under-par 138 with 78 players moving on to the weekend. That means there will be a second cut on Saturday with the closest number to 70 playing the final round.
Among those who missed the weekend were Fred Funk, Jeff Maggert, Chris DiMarco and Brett Quigley.
