Allen takes outright lead at Insperity Invitational

The Woodlands, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Michael Allen birdied his final two holes on Saturday to shoot a second-round, 4-under 68 and take the outright lead going into the final day of the Insperity Invitational.

Allen, who is seeking his eighth career victory on the Champions Tour, finished 36 holes at 10-under-par 134. He also shared the first-round lead with Marco Dawson.

After picking up his first win on tour alongside partner Billy Andrade at last week's Legends of Golf, Joe Durant is alone in second at 9-under 135 following a 68 of his own on the Tournament Course at The Woodlands Country Club.

Scott Dunlap carded a 7-under 65, the best round of the day, and he is tied for third at minus-8 with Woody Austin and Tom Lehman, both of whom shot 66s.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer (66) is one shot further back at 7-under 137 alongside Ian Woosnam (66), Kirk Triplett (67) and Jeff Maggert (70).

Allen jumped out to another hot start on Saturday as he made birdies on one and three for the second straight day. Allen gave one of those shots back with a bogey on No. 5, but a birdie on eight got him back to minus-2 for the day and the 56-year-old made the turn with a par on nine.

Around the turn, Allen traded a bogey on 10 for a birdie on 11 and he sat at 8-under for the week. He then made five straight pars from 12 to remain there.

After a big mistake late by Durant, Allen made back-to-back gains at 17 and 18 to jump back into the lead at the end of day two.

Durant rode a huge start into the outright lead and he was up by two shots heading down the stretch.

A birdie at the first had Durant going early on and he later made three birdies in five holes at four, six and eight. Durant kept it rolling around the turn as he was the first one to 10-under with a birdie at the par-4 12th.

It appeared as if Durant was going to ride smoothly into the final round with a 2-shot lead as he made four straight pars from 13, but he made a mess of the par-4 17th and made double-bogey, which dropped the 51-year-old into a tie for the lead with five others.

Luckily for Durant, he salvaged one of those shots by making a birdie at the last, but he had to settle for sole possession of second going into the final day.

NOTES: Allen won two times on tour last season at the Allianz Championship and the AT&T Championship ... Langer also won here in 2007 and 2008 ... First- round co-leader Dawson shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 10th at 6-under 138.