Allen Doyle overcame a shaky start to fire a 2-under-par 70 today, extending his lead to two shots entering the final round of the Ace Group Classic seniors tournament.

The former college hockey player, whose course-record 64 gave him a one-shot lead after Friday's first round, recovered from two bogeys in the first three holes to finish with a two-day total of 10-under 134 at Bay Colony Golf Club.

"The day was kind of tough, but I hung in there," said Doyle, who recorded the best score in last December's Senior PGA Tour qualifying tournament.

Hugh Baiocchi, Graham Marsh and Vicente Fernandez were next at 136. Marsh, who shot 69 Saturday, and Fernandez (71) both eagled the par-5 18th hole to move into contention. Baiocchi (71) birdied the final hole.

Bruce Fleisher, who owns two victories and a second-place finish in his three senior tour events, is not playing this week after coming down with pneumonia.

Fleisher's two victories in his first two events moved him quickly to the front of this year's rookie class. But Doyle also is included with such fellow rookies as Jim Thorpe and Howard Twitty.

"You can't get too psyched up about it," Doyle said. "The more people talk about it, the harder it gets."

Doyle endured his first survival test Saturday, facing testy pin placements and a strong wind. He opened the round with a bogey on the par-5 first hole, a birdie at No. 2 and another bogey at No. 3.

Doyle finally settled down to make three birdies and 12 pars the rest of the way. Luckily for him, the rest of the field also was struggling to make a move.

"It was one of those days where you just have to hang in there," said Marsh, who hit the day's best shot with a 220-yard 5-wood within two feet of the cup at No. 18. "It's the type of course where defensive play can be the best part of valor."

That might be sound advice for Doyle, now aiming for his first victory since the 1995 Nike Tour Championship. The longtime amateur, who played on two Walker Cup teams, turned professional in 1995 and became the PGA Tour's oldest rookie in 1996 at age 47.

"To win, it would be huge," Doyle said. "I don't know how many total members there are on the senior tour, but everybody's goal is to win. It would be nice to be in that group."