A Friday morning hot streak has elevated American Jason Dufner to the top of the leaderboard at the 2009 JBWere Australian Masters at Kingston Heath.
The 32 year old from Cleveland Ohio has picked up six shots through 12 holes and at eight under overall following his opening round 70, Dufner is out on his own in front, two shots clear of the morning's other major movers, Mathew Goggin, Victorian Open champion Ashley Hall and playing partner Manny Villegas of Colombia.
Hall, Villegas and Goggin are at six under with overnight joint leaders Tiger Woods, James Nitties and South African Branden Grace, all of whom have afternoon tee times.
Hall, who carded an opening-round 69, had picked up three shots through 11 holes while Villegas, the younger brother of US PGA Tour star Camillo, was four under for his round also through 11.
After starting at the 10th, Goggin picked up one shot on his outward nine and another at the fourth to be two under for the round following his first round 68.
Of the other leading Australian contenders out early on Friday, Stuart Appleby (69) was two under for his round through 11 holes while Adam Scott (71) was even with the card through 12 and Richard Green (72) two under through 12.
A record crowd of 21,356 fans packed the course to follow Woods on Thursday, and tournament organisers are expecting that number to be surpassed on Friday with the opportunity for spectators to start their weekend early.
