The 51-year-old heads into Sunday with a five-stroke lead after shooting a second round of 3-under-par 67 on a "horrible" windy afternoon at Richmond Golf Club, to move to 10-under-par for the tournament.

His nearest challengers are two players also chasing their first Australian PGA Seniors title, Murray Lott and Nigel Lane, at 5-under, with Adam Henwood and Mike Harwood a further shot back in outright fourth.

Harwood turned in one of the best rounds of Saturday, matching his age by carding a 67, which featured a back nine of just 31 shots.

A winner of 20 titles worldwide, Jones is banking on going one place better after finishing runner-up in this event 12 months ago when he was in a three-way tie for the lead after 36 holes.

“Look, there's always nerves. Winning tournaments is difficult,” Jones said of his approach to Sunday.

“Five shots sounds like a lot, but it can get pretty tight, pretty quickly.

“I've been in control of my ball for the last two days. If I keep doing that, then I'm confident of another good score tomorrow.”

After being one stroke clear overnight, Jones grew his lead to six by picking up shots at the two par-5s, the first and sixth, and at the par-4 seventh and 10th.

As the winds started to build, he slipped up with his first bogey after missing the green at the 167m par-3 11th, which played as one of the most difficult holes on day two, and then also handed back a shot at the par-3 17th.

In between was an up-and-down for birdie at the driveable par-4 16th.

"That was horrible. Not a lot of fun at all," Jones said of playing in the gusty winds.

“It was funny because I felt like I was in control of my game, but at the same time I felt there was scrambling going on, left, right, and centre.

“Difficult conditions, difficult day, but I thought, for the majority of it, I handled it quite well.”

Lott has been a consistent performer in the PGA Legends Tour’s major events in Australia this season, finishing equal ninth at the Australian Senior Open in Toowoomba before a fourth in the NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona last week.

His 4-under-par 66 was the low round on Saturday and came in calmer morning conditions.

Lott was bogey-free, a change to his opening 69, which mixed in four bogeys and a double-bogey with an eagle and five birdies.

“Bogey-free may be the most impressive part of that, given how windy and firm it is out there at the moment,” the Queenslander said.

“I've actually had a nice little run the last couple of weeks and feel like I've got into a nice groove. Mentally, emotionally and physically, it's all starting to align nicely.”

Lott’s playing partner over the first two rounds, Nigel Lane, had a 67 on Saturday to follow his first-day 68.

He’s trying to capture his second big title of 2026 after being victorious in the PNG Senior Open at Lae Golf Club in April.

Further down the leaderboard, defending champion Jason Norris (70) is at two-under-par and 2026 Australian Seniors Open winner Leon Trenerry (72) is two-over.

Catlina Club professional Rodney Booth battled to a 76 on day two after starting the day just a shot behind Jones.