Kenny Perry takes over lead with 63

American Kenny Perry made a bid for a second Colonial title in three years by firing a flawless seven-under 63 to top the leaderboard by three shots from compatriots DJ Trahan and Ted Purdy in Texas on Friday.

Perry, the 2003 winner at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, got his second round off to the best possible start with back-to-back birdies and never let off the gas making the turn at four-under and adding three more birdies on the back,

With just a single bogey through two scorching rounds at Hogan's Alley, Perry sits at 12-under 128.

After 81 PGA Tour events without a title until his win last week at the Byron Nelson, Purdy was in contention for a second as he continued to play superbly, signing for a five-under 65.

Joining Purdy at nine-under 131 is Trahan, who had a rollercoaster day mixing six birdies with three bogeys for a three-under 67.

Lurking one stroke further back at 132 is Kirk Triplett, who carded a four-under 66 for the second consecutive day.

Americans Steve Stricker and Billy Mayfair and Australian Rod Pampling are all on seven-under 133.

World number four Phil Mickelson looked headed for the exit most of the day as he hovered on or below the one-over cutline.

The former Masters champion had a positive start with a birdie at the first but quickly found trouble with a bogey at the fourth followed by triple bogey at the par four fifth taking him from one-under to three over in just two holes.

Mickelson, who has not missed a cut this season, kept his streak intact with a late rally, draining birdies on three of the last five holes to finish with a one-under 69 and at even par for the tournament.

Former champions Sergio Garcia of Spain and American Steve Flesch were not as fortunate and made early exits.

Garcia, the world number eight, had looked safe until a disastrous bogey-bogey finish left him three-over on the day and two-over for the tournament.

Flesch, attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the Colonial since Ben Hogan in 1952-53, finished with a one-over 71 but had left himself too much work after an opening round nine-over 79 that included a pair of double-bogeys.

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