John Pate during on day two at Lake Merced Golf Club
(SCGA Photo)

Now, a second title is right in his crosshairs.

Pate, the brother of professional Steve Pate, shot a second round 3-under 69 Tuesday at par-72 Lake Merced GC to take a commanding 4-shot lead in this week’s California Senior Amateur.

The lone player in the field to shoot under par in both the first and second rounds, Pate will enter the final round with a two-day total of 4-under 140. In creating his cushion, the Ventura native carded six birdies to counter three bogeys.

"Yesterday I hit the ball pretty well, I didn't putt too well, but I played solidly," said Pate. "Today was really an interesting round. I made a couple scores on holes where I should have done better, and a couple times I made scores on holes that should have been worse. There were very few holes where I made the score I should have."

In at 144, four behind the leader, are two other players hailing from Southern California–Patrick Rohan of San Diego and Craig Steinberg of Agoura Hills. Coming off a first round leading 69, Rohan shot a 75. Steinberg, meanwhile, followed up a 70 with a 74.

Alone in fourth place at 146 following his second straight 73 is Mark Morgan. Casey Boyns, who won the California Senior Amateur in 2012, had a 77 to fall back into a T-5 at 148 with three other players.

In the annual Senior Cup, which pits three players from the SCGA against three players from the NCGA (best two scores out of three) over the first two days of the championship, the NCGA took the title, 296-300.

With a victory Wednesday, Pate would become only the third player to win multiple California Senior Amateur titles, joining Jeff Burda and Jim McMurtrey, who’ve each won a record three times.

Wednesday’s final round will tee off at 8 a.m.

"I hope I can do more of the same tomorrow," said Pate. "It's a difficult golf course. It never allows you to feel super comfortable out there."