Timonium, MD (My Sportsbook) - The last time Ben Crenshaw held the 36-hole lead was the 1995 Memorial.
That changed on Friday.
Crenshaw fired a four-under 66 in round two to move to the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes of the Senior Players Championship, the final major of the year on the Champions Tour.
Crenshaw finished two rounds at seven-under 133 and is one shot clear at Baltimore Country Club.
"Not much explanation for it this week," said Crenshaw.
Fred Funk, who won the last major on the 50-and-over circuit, the Tradition, managed a two-under 68 and is alone in second place at minus-six.
Gene Jones (66) and Tom Jenkins (68) share third place at five-under 135.
They are all looking up at a two-time Masters champion.
Crenshaw broke into red figures with a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-three second hole. He parred his next five, but found trouble at the eighth. Crenshaw's seven-iron approach landed in a greenside bunker and he could not get up and down for par.
Crenshaw caught fire on the back nine and did so quickly. He hit a five-iron to 25 feet at the par-three 11th and drained the birdie putt. One hole later, Crenshaw sank a 15-footer for birdie and Crenshaw was now at five-under par for the championship.
Once again, Crenshaw took advantage of the par threes. At the 180-yard 15th, Crenshaw knocked a five-iron to 10 feet to set up birdie. He hit a five-wood to 25 feet at the 458-yard 17th and rolled in that birdie putt to grab first at minus-seven.
Crenshaw only managed to get his approach just inside 60 feet at the closing hole. Always considered one of the best putters in the history of the game, Crenshaw lagged it inside four feet. He converted for the par and the first 36-hole lead in 13 years.
"I'm pleased with the way I'm playing," said Crenshaw. "So far, my rhythm has been fine. Some of the putts on the back nine were bonuses. I'm driving the ball well."
It was 13 years ago that Crenshaw last held a piece of the 36-hole lead. He shared first with Robert Gamez at the Memorial and Crenshaw eventually tied for fifth behind Greg Norman.
Crenshaw last won anywhere in 1995. It was that year that he emotionally won his second green jacket at the Masters after the death of his longtime coach and mentor, Harvey Penick.
"I've been anything but predictable in my career," admitted Crenshaw. "I've had some wonderful things happen in my career. I feel capable at times."
Mark O'Meara (67), John Morse (68), Bernhard Langer (70) and Nick Price (66) share fifth place at four-under 136.
Leading money winner Jay Haas (70), D.A. Weibring (70), Andy Bean (69), Scott Hoch (71) and Scott Simpson (67) are knotted in ninth place at three-under 137.
Defending champion Loren Roberts is one of seven players tied at one-under-par 139 after a one-under 71.
The three first-round co-leaders struggled on Friday.
Phil Blackmar was the best of the group with a three-over 73 and he fell into a tie for 14th at minus-two,
Bruce Fleisher and Des Smyth both posted rounds of five-over 75 and dipped into 28th place at even-par 140.