Larry Nelson takes a narrow lead

Larry Nelson is used to showcasing his talent locally.

The resident of Marietta, about 15 miles from the Golf Club of Georgia, shot a 5-under-par 67 today to take a one-shot lead in the second round of the Senior PGA Tour's Nationwide Championship.

"I feel comfortable with the lead," said Nelson, who won three PGA Tour events, including the 1981 PGA Championship, in suburban Atlanta. "They will have to play two shots better to beat me"

Walter Hall shot a 64 and first-round leader Mark Hayes had a 70 to enter the final round tied for second place.

Despite blustery winds and 90-degree heat, Nelson missed only two greens to move to 8 under for the tournament. Nelson, 51, is seeking his second victory this year and the $1.45 million event would be his seventh title on the senior tour.

Hall, whose 64 was the low round of the tournament, used a 7-iron for a hole-in-one at No. 13. The former appliance salesman, who lost a four-way playoff to Lanny Wadkins at the ACE Group Classic Feb. 13, is aiming for his first senior victory. Hall's bogey-free round included six birdies.

"I tried to play one shot at a time and tried to calm my emotions," Hall said. "Obviously, I was all pumped up after the hole-in-one. I'm happy to be where I am. I'll just go out and try to play as best as I can, and hopefully one day it will shake out for me."

Hayes, who entered the day with a one-shot lead, closed with consecutive birdies.

A bad drive at the par-4 16th hole landed in the left rough and led to a bogey, but Hayes recovered by rolling in a 20-foot putt at the par-3 17th hole and making a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th.

Nelson, the tour's No. 2 money winner with earnings of $729,100, had birdies on 16 and 17. He hit a 9-iron within 6 feet on the 16th hole and a 4-iron within 8 feet on the 17th.

"Each hole is a little bit different here," Nelson said. "I have to change my way of playing. Normally I just hit it right at the hole, but these greens have so many undulations that they can be hard to read."

Hubert Green and defending champion Hale Irwin were two strokes back. A double bogey at No. 12 kept Green, who began the day at 4-under, from gaining further ground. Irwin's round was highlighted by a 30-foot birdie putt at No. 15 and a 25-foot par saver after getting up-and-down at No. 17.

Irwin won the Nationwide last year with an eagle from 74 feet out on the final hole. It marked the first of five straight victories for Irwin, who won 25 senior events in his first five years but has yet to win on the tour this year.

"The course is playing shorter because we haven't had any rain," Irwin said. "It's a little narrower, but it's playing the way it should play. The ball is really bouncing."

DIVOTS: The threesome of Nelson, Hall and Hayes will tee off at 2:25 p.m. EDT Sunday. ... Nelson's 80-year-old mother, Ruddell Nelson, walked all 18 holes. ... Tom Watson, seeking his first senior victory of the year, is four strokes back after a 71. ... Tom Kite is also four strokes back. His 66 put him in a tie with Rocky Thompson and John Bland. ... Money leader Bruce Fleisher is playing in Ireland this weekend.

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