Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel and Australian Adam Scott joined American Bubba Watson in a three-way share of the lead after the second day of the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
Brandt Snedeker produced an ace on the 161 yard par three 16th, but a bogey on the penultimate hole cost him a share of the lead.
Instead, he sits in fourth place on nine under par, with Watson, Schwartzel and Scott all one shot better off.
Scott was the big mover of the three, signing for an impressive eight under 63 as he put together a flawless round, making the turn in 31 after an eagle on the 18th, and then following it with four birdies in six holes on the front nine.
Watson, one of the first out this morning, was only one shot worse off on the day, completing the course in 64 as he recovered from an early bogey with a run of four birdies over six holes before an eagle on the par five seventh moved him into an early lead.
Watson had also eagled the seventh on Friday.
Schwartzel had to recover from a poor start to join the leaders. He had made the turn at one over par after bogeys on the 11th and 18th holes, but then put together four straight birdies to start the front nine, followed by further birdies on the sixth and seventh holes.
Snedeker got off to a flying start as he attacked the back nine first on the second morning, recording consecutive birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th greens before he aced the 16th.
Perhaps still feeling the buzz of the previous hole, Snedeker bogeyed the par four 17th as he three-putted, but he recovered with an eagle on the 18th.
He birdied the fourth, but finished on a sour note as a bogey on the eighth dropped him a shot back.
Nick Watney signed for a second consecutive 67 to take sole possession of fifth place on eight under par, with Rickie Fowler, Ernie Els, Jerry Kelly, Jason Dufner and Chez Reavie tied for sixth one shot further back.
Sergio Garcia, who had briefly topped the leaderboard as he recovered from an indifferent opening day, leads a seven-way tie for 11th that also includes Luke Donald and first-round leader Troy Matteson, who suffered a rough day as no less than three bogeys saw him sign for a level par 71.
Donald retains hopes of winning both the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and The Race to Dubai, but will need to improve on his one under par 70.
