EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — Loren Roberts had four birdies on the back nine and shot a 3-under 68 today, extending his lead to two strokes after two rounds of the Commerce Bank Championship.

David Eger (66) and Scott Simpson (67) shared second at 7-under 135 in the $1.6 million Champions Tour event on the 7,082-yard Red Course at Eisenhower Park.

Roberts has yet to win this year but does have three second-place finishes and is fourth on the money list. He had a one-stroke lead after the opening round, just as he did in 2007. Last year, he shot a second-round 71 to fall out of first place and finished second to Lonnie Nielsen by two strokes.

His start Saturday didn't bode well for a chance to stay on top. Roberts bogeyed No. 1 before nine straight pars had him three shots off the lead. But he birdied No. 11 from 5 feet and then added birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17 — the longest a 12-foot putt — to take advantage of some late swoons by leaders Mike Goodes and Keith Fergus, who both reached 8 under before faltering.

Nielsen, who won for the first time at East Meadow last year, had a 69. He was in a group of six at 136 that included Goodes, who bogeyed Nos. 15 and 17 in a 68.

Fergus was among 12 players another stroke back. He bogeyed three of the last four holes in a 70 to finish tied with Jeff Sluman (67). Sluman won last week's tour event by two strokes over Roberts, Nick Price (69), Andy Bean (69) and Mark W. Johnson, who matched the day's low round with a 65.

Tom Kite, who opened with a 73, also had a 65 Saturday.