Flies have replaced the Victoria Golf Club greens on Rich Beem's list of Australia's most despised creations.

But they didn't stop the reigning US PGA champion grabbing a share of the lead of the Australian Open golf championship after shooting a six-under par round of 64 in Saturday's second round.

Beem finished the day 10 under, in a tie for the lead with Victorian Steven Allan, a shot clear of American Charles Howell III and Western Australia's Craig Parry.

For Beem, his first trip to Australia has been as useful for its instruction in local flora and fauna as it has been for golf.

He learned on Thursday, for instance, that grass won't grow in Melbourne without water.

And on Saturday he discovered the "Aussie salute" as he constantly waved away a plague of flies.

"Is the fly the national bird of Australia?" Beem asked after his round.

"They were everywhere, and from what I've been told they're not even bad right now."

Fortunately for Beem, he also had his share of birdies - seven of them.

After beginning the day one behind the overnight leaders at four under, Beem rolled in four birdies and a bogey on the front nine and three more birdies on the way home for a round he said had tested his imagination.

"The golf course is a fun course, it lends itself to the imagination," Beem said.

"You don't just get up there and bomb away on every hole like you do in America.

"Over there you can get away with one shot - a draw.

"But here you have to play a lot more shots, you've got to bump a few in there...you've got to fit different shots."

Beem, who has received a six-figure appearance fee to play in the Open, had apologised in advance to the championship organisers in case he played poorly.

But after two rounds he has withdrawn the apology and is putting his hand out for another cheque.

"On Tuesday I wasn't sure how I would find the golf course and how it would suit my game," Beem said.

Like most players, he was even less sure once the championship got underway .

Officials abandoned play when the slick greens became unplayable during Thursday's first round, cancelling all scores and ordering a new start on Friday.

But a regime of heavy watering have brought them up to a playable standard.

"The conditions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were extremely difficult," Beem said.

"I think the rules committee and the greens keepers have done an outstanding job in bringing the course back."

But the worst may yet be ahead.

The forecast for Sunday's final round is for temperatures approaching 40 degrees and a stiff northerly wind, conditions which are bound to test the fragility of the greens and the temperament of the players.

One player who believes he has whatever is required to handle the pressure of a tense final day is Allan.

The Victorian said the situation confronting him tomorrow was one he had been looking forward to for a couple of years.

"I have played pretty well in America in the second half of the year and I feel like I've been working towards a good result," Allan said.

"I know this course pretty well and my swing is better than ever, I'm confident it'll hold up whatever sort of day they give us."

Howell made a couple of charges at the lead and seemed likely to take a share of the top spot coming to the 18th, a gift birdie for most players.

But he carved his tee shot into the players' car park beside the par five hole and finished with a regulation par for a two round, nine-under par total of 131.

On the same score is Parry who fired a 65. New South Welshman Gavin Coles is a further shot away.

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