Unheralded Americans Olin Browne and Jason Gore are enjoying their moment in the sun after sharing the halfway lead with Retief Goosen at the US Open. "Considering the way I played today, it's something of a miracle," said Browne, who shot a 71 on Friday.
"But there's plenty of golf left, and this course is going to be nasty and brutal come the weekend."
Gore said: "This is an opportunity for me to play well. I'm the underdog and it's going to be kind of fun."
Browne has two wins on the PGA Tour - the last in 1999 - and lost his exempt status the past two years.
He shot a 59 in a regional qualifier to earn his place in the 156-man field.
 |  I haven't played well enough to keep my card. I've become a stronger person for that |
"This game is all about staying in the present and hanging in there as long as you can," said Browne. "I've got no fingernails left today, man. I was hanging all day long.
"Maybe I'm just content being here. Maybe shooting a great score in qualifying set me straight on something."
Gore, a 31-year-old veteran of the Nationwide Tour, shot a three-under 67 on Friday.
He missed the cut in 1998, his only previous US Open, and during two brief stints on the PGA Tour, his best finish is 18th.
But most of his success has been one level down and he has three career victories on the Nationwide Tour.
"I haven't played well enough to keep my card. I've become a stronger person for that, and maybe that's all just starting to pan out," said Gore.
MMIX
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