Brendan Stasiewich, Special to 91原创 Advance Times
尝补苍驳濒别测鈥檚 shot a career-low round on a PGA tour-sanctioned circuit Friday at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, firing a 9-under par 63 to head into the third round of the Canada Life Open with a two-stroke lead over Jake Knapp.
A sponsored exemption this week, the 34-year old played in four separate one-day competitive events in May leading up to the Canada Life Open. He set the course record in three of those rounds and tied his own course record in the fourth.
The numbers in those rounds? A 65 in the local RBC Canadian Open qualifier, a 63 at Sandpiper Golf Course and a pair of 61s at Mission Country Club and Chilliwack Golf Club during local Vancouver Golf Tour events.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a rhythm for me right now, it鈥檚 all I can describe it as. It鈥檚 not something that I think about, it鈥檚 not on my mind, I just go out and continue doing what I鈥檓 doing,鈥� said Allenby following Friday鈥檚 second round. 鈥淚鈥檓 putting really well and usually that鈥檚 what it takes to shoot really low numbers.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 just the putter that was hot for Allenby on Friday at the Mackenzie Tour鈥檚 season opener, but all facets of his game.
Starting on hole No. 11 due to the tournament鈥檚 modified back-nine start, Allenby began his day 1-under through six holes, but gained momentum as he made the turn that included three par-5s in a four-hole span, playing his next seven holes 7-under par.
Tacking on one more circle on his final hole of the day, Allenby bested his 65 from the 2013 Canada Life Championship with a bogey-free 63 to move to 13-under for the week.
READ ALSO: 尝补苍驳濒别测鈥檚 James Allenby is king of the links at RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier
鈥淭his is where you want to be,鈥� said the former All-American with the Oregon Ducks. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun and there鈥檚 still a lot of work to do, but hopefully I can keep this rhythm I have going and take it through to the finish.鈥�
A journeyman who鈥檚 played 69 Mackenzie Tour events since 2009, Allenby鈥檚 best year came in the form of an 18th-place finish on the Order of Merit in 2012. In his career, Allenby has 16 top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour.
Though a stint on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica came with mixed results in 2018, finishing 93rd on the Order of Merit, Allenby has found success in recent years on various mini-tours, picking up nine-professional victories since 2017. Despite his game trending in the right direction, he鈥檚 still searching for status on a professional tour.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a grind, sometimes it鈥檚 not fun, but I have to get myself out there. I have to give myself enough shots at getting on a tour somewhere, anywhere,鈥� said Allenby. 鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 worked out for me yet so far, but I know it鈥檚 there and I know the game is there, it鈥檚 just a matter of time.鈥�
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