Senior British Open Championship 2006

Romero capped off a 7-under-par 63 with an eagle and a birdie on the final two holes on Friday to move into a share of the lead with Loren Roberts after the second round.

Roberts, who shared the first-round lead with Craig Stadler and Peter Jacobsen, carded his second straight bogey-free 65 at Westin Turnberry's Ailsa Course on Thursday.

Stadler followed his 65 with a 66 and is one stroke behind the leaders at 9-under.

David Edwards carded a 65 and is another shot back at 8-under.

Americans are also in the next five spots with Gil Morgan (65) and Tim Simpson (67) at 7-under and Fuzzy Zoeller (65), Mike Reid (67) and Jacobsen (70) at 5-under.

But it was the 52-year-old Romero who stole the show when he produced the longest drive of his life at the 17th hole.

"I hit the ball 379 yards and I have never done that before," Romero said. "My confidence is very high and I feel strong. In fact, I feel as if I've only played nine holes. I have been focusing all my concentration on my putting because that has always been a problem. The putter used to be a terrible club for me but not any more."

Roberts was involved in an unfortunate incident at the 17th when he struck a female spectator on the side of the head with his second shot. Local member Catherine McCrindle had acted as a scorer with Roberts' group in the opening round. The unfortunate victim required medical attention but, although badly shaken, did not suffer a serious injury.

Coincidentally, Roberts' playing partner - Englishman Mark James - followed up by hitting a male spectator on the leg at the last hole.

"Mark commented that we were mowing them down one after another and that they are going to send a meat wagon out with us tomorrow (Saturday)," Roberts said. "But seriously, I feel bad about what happened. I fear that the lady might be badly hurt but, fortunately, she seems to be fine. Nothing like that has happened to me before and I was very concerned at the time."

Defending champion Tom Watson fired a 67 to move to even-par.

Watson won five British Opens as a member of the PGA Tour and two at the Senior British Open. It was here where Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in the famous "Duel in the Sun" in 1977 for the British Open title. And in 2003, Watson prevailed here over England's Carl Mason in another playoff to claim his first British Senior Open title.

Last year, Watson won this event in a three-hole playoff, beating Ireland's Des Smyth at Royal Aberdeen.

Watson finished tied for 48th at the British Open at Hoylake last week.

Gary Player is the only three-time winner of this event, capturing the first two at Turnberry in 1988 and 1990 and the last one at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 1997.

Player beat his age by a year with a 69 in the first round, but faltered with a 75 on Friday and barely made the cut at 4-over.

Since 1995, there have been six playoffs in the Senior British Open, including two the last three years.