Michael Putnam has been a first-round leader at the Albertsons Boise Open.

As of Friday, he’s also been a second-round leader.

He wants more.

“Hopefully a final-round leader,” Putnam said. “I don’t want to just be a third-round leader, I guess. … Obviously, there’s a big carrot out there, and it’s for me to win the tournament.”

If he continues playing the way he has this week, he’ll earn the $130,500 check that will be presented to the winner Sunday night at Hillcrest Country Club.

Putnam shot a 6-under par 65 on Friday in the second round of the Web.com tournament. His two-day total puts him at 15-under, the lowest score after 36 holes in the 23-year history of the tournament.

“I have nine birdies (with putts) under 5 feet this week, so far,” Putnam said. “That’s pretty good. … I don’t think I’ve ever made nine tap-in birdies in two rounds.”

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Putnam credits his iron play for some of those birdies, along with the conditions.

“The course is perfect,” he said. “It’s as easy as it’s ever been out here, with zero wind and soft greens.”

Add it all up, and the tournament record of 21-under could be in jeopardy. Jon Mills established that record in 2007, and he saw it equaled in 2010 by Hunter Haas.

“I’ll be shocked if that lasts,” said Mills, who sits at 7-under. “It’s held up long enough, I guess.”

Truth is, a lot of golfers will be gunning for the tournament record. In 2007, when Mills won, there were seven golfers at 10-under or better through 36 holes. In 2010, when Haas won, there were a total of five.

This year, there are 12.

“There are so many guys at 10, 11, 12 already, and I think the weather’s supposed to be just like this,” Putnam said. “It’s inevitable. You’ve got to get at least to 21.”

Richard H. Lee will be among those who will be gunning for the record. He had the round of the day (62) to get to 13-under, two strokes back of Putnam.

“It was fun,” Lee said. “It was the lowest round of my year. … It’s all about putting. If you’re putting well, you can turn a 67 into a 62.”

Lee’s family moved to Seattle when he was 10, and he went on to become a two-time All-American at the University of Washington. Putnam is a native of Tacoma, Wash., so the Pacific Northwest will be well represented when the leaders tee off Saturday morning.

“I know him really well. We actually shared the same teacher growing up,” Putnam said of Lee.

“A couple of Washington guys … we must like the West Coast.”

Chris Langrill: 377-6424