For the second straight day Neithan Allen saved his best for last.

Just like Friday, Allen closed out his round Saturday at the Mallard Cove Golf Course by chipping in for an eagle on the 18th hole.

This time it gave him a round of 2-under par 70 and a two-day total of 137, good for 7-under and a five-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the Lake Charles City Golf Championship.

His final shot once again gave Allen momentum heading into the next day.

“I don’t know what it is,” Allen said. “I had a pretty good line, nipped it pretty good and it just rolled in. Might have to stay off the green tomorrow (Sunday).”

Allen hasn’t done too much wrong the last two weekends.

He is looking to follow up his Sulphur city title of a week ago by becoming the fourth player ever to win that and the Lake Charles crown in the same year and first since Matt Nicholas did so in 2004.

“It would mean a lot,” Allen said. “It would just solidify that I have been playing good golf of late. It is a feat not many others have done and it would show that maybe you are as good as you have been playing.”

Allen shot the back nine with a 3-under 33.

“I put myself in a good position once again,” Allen said. “I know I’m going to have some jitters the first couple of holes. I had some today. I just have to go out and play and see what happens.”

A year ago Allen entered the final round of this tournament with a one-shot lead but watched as Robby Going passed him by as he finished second, three shots back. This time he has more of a cushion but knows anything can happen.

“You just have to play the way you have been playing,” Allen said. “I hope that last hole can give me some momentum and I can carry it over and keep this going.”

He said he doesn’t want to rest on his big lead.

“I still have to play aggressive,” Allen said. “Their are golfers out there who can put up low numbers.”

One of those chasing Allen is the last man to accomplish the city double, Nicholas, who along with Jake Clyde were at 142. Nicholas shot a 70 while Clyde had his second consecutive round of 71 Saturday.

“He (Allen) is going to be tough to catch,” said Nicholas, who posted four birdies over the final six holes to put himself into contention.

“I gave myself a chance, but Allen is playing really well so it won’t be easy,” Nicholas said. “He is a good golfer who is playing very well. That is going to be a tough combination to beat.”

Nicholas rallied from two bogies on the front nine to save his round.

“I putted better the last nine holes,” he said.

As for any advice to Allen he might have about winning the two titles in the same year, Nicholas said it wasn’t needed.

“He doesn’t need my advice with the way he’s playing,” he said.

The best round of the day was posted by recent Barbe High graduate Shane Fontenot.

He saved a round that could have gone bad with four birdies on the final nine holes to post a 4-under 68 and keep in touch of the leaders. His 143 puts him 1-under for the tourney and six shots back of Allen.

The future McNeese State player got off to a fast start, but a double bogey on fifth came after a bogey on the fourth and stalled his run early.

“I came out playing pretty good then I hit the bad tee shot and got in trouble,” Fontenot said. “At the turn I still knew I had nine holes to play and just wanted to make three or four birdies to give myself a chance.

“I putted better today and I think I have a chance.”

Last year he played the tournament but faltered on the final day.

“It was a learning experience,” Fontenot said. “I got to see how I play against some better golfers and in front of a crowd. I know what to expect Sunday.”

The cut for the championship flight landed at 149. Defending champ Going played better on Saturday but his round of 75 was only good enough for a two-day total of 152. He will compete in the Flight 1 division today.

The top 16 playing for the title will tee off starting at 2:04 p.m. today.

City Championship

(Par 72-72 144)

Championship Flight

Neithan Allen 67-70 137

Matt Nicholas 72-70 142

Jack Clyde 71-71 142

Shane Fontenot 75-68 143

Zak Barton 72-72 144

Jason Horn 71-73 144

John Morrissey 73-72 145

Hank Shaheen 72-73 145

Philip Hoffpauir 73-74 147

D.J. Schexnider 70-77 147

Logan Hayes 75-73 148

Austin Hinton 79-70 149

Byron Martin 75-74 149

Gabe Coleman 75-74 149

Sutton Farmer 74-75 149

J.D. Welsh 73-76 149

First Flight

Chris Vallette 75-75 150

Chris Gentry 80-71 151

Chad Johnson 74-77 151

Robby Going 77-75 152

Blake Dereese 74-79 153

Thad Gaspard 79-75 154

Kevin McArthur 78-76 154

Bill Stevens 78-78 156

Kyle Collins 77-79 156

Connor Castille 73-83 156

Channing Kyle 83-74 157

Austin Campbell 75-82 157

Blake Derouen 76-82 158

Kris Hollan 79-80 179

Wayne Sweeney 79-81 160

Doug Quienalty 79-WD

(mgnonline.com)