Inman on course for title defence

Two-time defending champion Joe Inman shot a 3-under-par 68 today and maintained a two-stroke lead over Mike McCullough after two rounds of the SBC Senior Classic.

Inman is trying to become the fifth player in Senior PGA Tour history to win the same tournament three consecutive years.

McCullough's 68 left him at 7-under 135, one stroke in front of Larry Nelson, who a 64, Jim Thorpe, who had a 66, and Stewart Ginn, who had a 67.

Inman had three birdies at the 6,583-yard Wilshire Country Club course, including a 25-foot putt on No. 12.

"The course played really hard today," Inman said. "The greens were so soft I couldn't get the ball to stay around the hole.''

Inman, who is looking for his first win of the year, is trying to join Chi Chi Rodriguez, Bob Charles, George Archer, and Hale Irwin as consecutive three-time winners of the same event.

McCullough started his round with a bogey but made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 4 and a 40-footer for birdie on 10.

"It started three years ago when I changed my swing," McCullough said. "It started here when Gil (Morgan) and I talked about it. Both Joe (Inman) and Gil have been helping me with my putting."

Nelson, the tour's leading money winner, was pleased with his 64, the day's low round.

"I needed that," Nelson said. "It seems every time I take a week off the first round back has seemed shaky. But I knew it would take two good rounds to win here."

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