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Driving the ball with laser-like accuracy,
Leishman followed his opening 62 with a similarly impressive
seven-under-par 64 at Conway Farms in Lake Forest, Illinois.
His 16-under 126 total is only three shots shy of the PGA Tour
record low score for the first 36 holes, set by Justin Thomas at
the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Fellow Australian Day had a "lucky" hole-in-one en route to a
65, while American Fowler carded 64 to share second place at
13-under.
Leishman is six strokes clear of fourth-placed Patrick Cantlay
in the penultimate event of the PGA Tour season.
Leishman said his goal had been to "try to do the same as
yesterday, give myself heaps of opportunities and then try to
take advantage of them."
He did that and then some, his confidence boosted by his birdie
at the par-four seventh, where he struck a low fizzing pitch
that scuttled into the hole.
"It had a bit of speed and then in she goes. You go from
scrambling for a par to making three (birdies) in a row," said
the laid-back Leishman.
The world number 22 has won twice on the PGA Tour, including the
Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida in March.
Leishman cannot, however, boast the best halfway score ever at
Conway Farms, an honor that belongs to Day, who plundered the
layout two years ago on his way to a victory that vaulted him to
number one in the world.
Day's seven-iron at the 188-yard 17th on Friday landed in the
rough just in front of the green, took a couple of bounces and
trickled into the hole, much to his surprise.
"We were trying to land it 182 (yards) and I kind of pushed it.
It was a lucky hole-in-one, I guess," Day said after his second
ace on tour.
He also had an eagle, a chip-in from 30 feet from beyond the
green at the par-five 14th.
"(I am) very pleased with how the last two days went," Day said.
"I can't get too far ahead of myself. Last time I was here I was
five shots better (after 36 holes). I've got to somehow try to
catch up to my number. That's the main goal."
Fowler also finished with a rush, picking up five strokes in the
final six holes.
The BMW Championship is the third of four playoff events on the
PGA Tour. The top points earner after next week's Tour
Championship will receive a $10 million bonus awarded to the
season-long FedExCup champion.
Points leader Thomas carded 70 to fall 11 strokes behind
Leishman. Second-placed Spieth also shot 70 to trail by nine.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by
Christian Radnedge/Gene Cherry)
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