Aussie Matt Jones fired an eight-under par round of 64 to storm up the leaderboard at the halfway mark of the Children&aposs Miracle Network Classic in Florida. Jones shot nine birdies and just one bogey to move to 10-under overall and a share of 13th place, six shots behind leader Scott Verplank. Jason Day and Robert Allenby were the only other two Aussies to make the cut, but both are well back at six-under par in a tie for 51st. Verplank sank a long eagle putt and had five birdies on the back nine as he carded his second straight eight-under-par 64 for a three-stroke lead over Steve Marino and Troy Matteson after two rounds on the Magnolia and Palm courses at Walt Disney World. Only a bogey on the 18th hole prevented the 44-year-old from shooting a 29 on his back nine as he reached the halfway mark of the final tournament of the year at 16-under. “The only bad shot I really hit all day, I hit a sorry tee shot on 18,” Verplank said. “Went up kind of on the lip of the bunker, so I had to lay up short of the green, lay up short, kind of sucked back into a divot and hit a really nice chip shot and really nice putt, and didn&apost get it in.” Verplank entered the day one stroke off the lead but went ahead with his eagle on the 14th and reeled off three consecutive birdies before his bogey at the final hole. “If the conditions stay the same, the scores will still be good,” he added. “The greens are so good. The conditions are nice. The scores are always good here, especially when you get the weather like it was today. It couldn&apost be any better than it was today.” Verplank, who has just two top-10 finishes on the year, is seeking his sixth PGA Tour victory and first since last year&aposs Byron Nelson Championship in 2007. First-round leader Matteson could not match his torrid opening 63 as he carded a four-under 68 to join Marino at 13-under 131. “It&aposs always disappointing to finish on a bogey, but after you shoot nine under, it&aposs tough after a low round to come back out and try to repeat the performance,” said Matteson, who had seven birdies and two bogeys on Friday. Marino, who is seeking his first career victory, surged up the leaderboard with a six-under 66. Robert Gamez (67), Tag Ridings (66) and Robert Garrigus (67) are a further shot back at 12-under 132. Bob Estes and Scott Sterling each signed for bogey-free 63s and are part of a six-man group at 133. Second Round of The Children&aposs Miracle Network Classic (Par 72) -16: Scott Verplank 64 64 -13: Steve Marino 65 66, Troy Matteson 63 68 -12: Robert Gamez 65 67, Tag Ridings 66 66, Robert Garrigus 65 67 -11: Ken Duke 66 67, Jason Gore 66 67, Kevin Streelman 64 69, Tom Pernice Jr 66 67, Bob Estes 70 63, Scott Sterling 70 63 -10: Matt Jones (Australia) 70 64, Martin Laird 68 66, Bo Van Pelt 68 66, Tommy Gainey 68 66, Tim Petrovic 67 67, Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 68 66 -9: Jeff Overton 67 68, Kirk Triplett 65 70, Steve Flesch 67 68, Rich Beem 65 70, Bob Tway 73 62, Davis Love III 66 69, Harrison Frazar 67 68, Tim Clark 69 66 Also: -6: Jason Day 72 66, Robert Allenby (Australia) 66 72, Missed Cut: -4: Steve Elkington (Australia) 71 69, Brett Rumford (Australia) 69 71 -3: Mark Hensby (Australia) 71 70 -1: Peter Lonard (Australia) 73 70, David Lutterus (Australia) 71 72 +5: Nick Flanagan (Australia) 72 77