Wayne Grady kept the field at bay in the second round of the men's Australian Senior Open Championship at Concord Golf Club.

But it was 68-year-old female Joanne Carner, who tamed the layout.

Queenslander Grady, the 1990 US PGA champion fired the lowest round of the day, 68 to head into the final day of three-round tournament on 137, five under par.

He holds a one stroke advantage over New South Welshman David Merriman, who shot a second straight 69.

Grady produced some excellent form after the turn, notching five birdies in six holes.

"I hit it pretty close," said Grady who was suffering from a dose of influenza."

"I feel a lot better this afternoon than I did last night."

Five shots separated Merriman from the next three challengers, but the closer battle was in the women's World Legends Tour Opening Championship being held simultaneously on the same course.

Just three shots separated the top four, who all hale from the United States.

Alicia Dibos, who had to play 24 holes on Saturday after her first round was cut short, topped the leaderboard on 142, six under par, after rounds of 68 and 74.

One shot further back were compatriot Rosie Jones (75-68) and Patti Rizzo (72-71).

Outright fourth, a further two shots back was Carner (74-71), who made a extraordinary recovery after dropping three shots in her first two holes.

She blitzed the back nine, tallying six birdies in seven holes.

"The first nine I'd like to forget, but the back nine I loved," Carner said.

"I couldn't get going and everything I was trying wasn't working.

"I just wasn't hitting the putts firm enough and I couldn't capitalise on anything and I had a terrible shot on 10 and bogeyed and said `you've got to be breaking your hands too quick'.

"I made that change and everything fell into place.

Two times US Open Champion Carner, who last played in Australia in the 1970s, prospered despite being hammered by a lingering foot problem.

Australian Jan Stephenson (76-73) threatened the leaders after reaching the turn in three under, but dropped a shot on each of her last three holes to finish on one over par, seven shots of the pace.

Jones fired the lowest round of the day in the women's event after scorching her way round the back nine.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP