BENTON HARBOR – A day after nearly every golfer in the 156-player field struggled to get below par, Michael Allen set a new course record at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores Friday.

Allen, considered one of the favorites coming into the 73^rd Senior PGA Championship sponsored by KitchenAid, shot a 6-over 77 in the opening round Thursday.

But on Friday, with winds much calmer and the course playing a bit friendlier, Allen scorched Harbor Shores with seven birdies, 11 pars, hit 12 of 13 fairways and 17 of 18 greens to shoot 64 and work his way back into the tournament.

Allen, from Scottsdale, Ariz., birdied three, four, eight, 10, 12, 13 and 18. As of when he finished his round he trailed first-round leader Roger Chapman by just two strokes.

Allen’s round was the lowest since Allen Doyle’s in 1999 and his 13-stroke improvement is the best since 2010 when Brad Bryant and Bill Lefler did it at the Colorado Golf Club in Denver.

“It sure was a lot more fun than yesterday,” Allen said. “It’s certainly a much better day out there, the wind’s changed around to a different direction and certainly a little more friendly towards me anyhow. It was really a fun day out there.”

One day after only eight plays scored below par, the morning round produced six rounds under 70 and 11 rounds under par.