LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Defending champion Tony Finau made four birdies and an eagle in his last seven holes to grab a two-stroke lead at the Houston Open on Friday as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler's streak of under-par rounds came to an end.

Finau fired an eight-under par 62 to finish 36 holes at Memorial Park on nine-under 131, two clear of Argentina's Alejandro Tosti, who shot three-under-par 67 to reach the halfway stage at seven under.

"I've played some nice golf the first couple days and the game's in a good place," Finau said. "Just don't overthink it, get some rest, be properly prepared, properly rested for the weekend."

Finau started on the back nine and made a 10-foot birdie putt at 13, a birdie at the par-5 16th after reaching the green in two and a 13-foot birdie putt at 18, followed by his lone bogey of the day at the first.

Finau barely missed on a 31-foot eagle putt at the par-5 third and tapped in for birdie, then sank a 27-foot birdie putt at the fourth.

He added 30-foot birdie putts at the sixth and par-3 seventh then holed out from just inside 40 feet to eagle the par-5 eighth and at the par-3 ninth rolled a 16-foot birdie putt past the hole to miss out on 61.

"I knew what it was for — 61 would have been my lowest on the tour and the course record," Finau said. "I knew I was going to give it a run. I wasn't going to leave it short."