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Amateurs John Peterson of LSU and Harris English of Georgia are atop the leaderboard through two rounds of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational in Ohio.

It marks the first time in the 22-year history of the Tour that amateurs have held the top two spots on the leaderboard after two rounds.

Peterson, winner of the 2011 NCAA Individual Championship, leads the way at 11-under par while English, winner of last week’s prestigious Southern Amateur Championship in Florida is one shot back at 10-under.

Peterson, who opened with a 64 Thursday, carded a 4-under 67 early Friday and then headed to the pool to try and cool off in the sweltering heat which saw temperatures in the mid-90s and the heat index push it into triple digits.

English started late in the day and waited out a 100-minute rain delay before he birdied two of his final three holes for a second straight round of 66.

“There’s a lot of good amateurs here. It speaks highly of collegiate golf this day and age,” said English, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Saturday. “There’s just a lot of good players in college and amateur golf this year. It doesn’t surprise me.

Peterson's 131 total bettered the tournament’s 36-hole record by four strokes.

Daniel Summerhays was a senior-to-be at BYU when he won the inaugural event in 2007 to become the first amateur ever to win on the Nationwide Tour. Rickie Fowler had competed his sophomore year at Oklahoma State when he lost a playoff to Derek Lamely here in 2009.

San Diego’s Brian Smock (68) and Cincinnati’s Brett Wetterich (67) share third place at 8-under 134.

Seven players are at 6-under 136, including Oklahoma State’s Peter Uihlein, the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion.

Matthew Richardson of Woodbridge, Ont., was the lone Canadian to make the cut after shooting 67 to sit at 2-under par for the tournament.

Jon Mills of Belleville, Ont (72), David Morland IV of North Bay, Ont. (72) and Vancouver's Richard T. Lee (77) all failed to advance to weekend play.