As members of the same country club, Joe Inman and Larry Nelson frequently run into each other on the golf course -- but rarely play together.

They're guaranteed of at least one round together after surging to the front of the field today in the Bruno's Memorial Classic and sharing the second-round lead at 7-under par.

"Joe and I have known each other for at least 20 years and we live about three miles apart" in Atlanta, said Nelson, who shot a 67 to Inman's 68 today. "But he'll be trying to beat my brains out tomorrow and I'll be trying to beat his brains out."

Seventeen golfers remain within five strokes off the lead entering Sunday's final round at the Greystone Golf Club outside Birmingham. Bob Charles and Mike Hill, two of the older golfers on the tour at 60-plus years old, were a shot back at 6-under 138. Charles had the low round of the day, a 65.

"The only disappointing thing about my round today was that I didn't shoot my age," Charles, 63, said. "I'm actually looking forward to trying to break my age. Hopefully I can live long enough to do it."

Gil Morgan was two strokes back at 139 after a 68 and six others were at 140.

The weather conditions were far better for today's second round then for the first on Friday, when players sloshed through damp, blustery fairways in 50-degree weather. With the temperature in the mid-70s today, the players said they felt more comfortable through the second round.

"It was nice to be standing on the first tee in a vest," Inman said. "I like this time of year. I always seem to play better in the spring and summer."

Inman, who entered the second round 3-under, birdied the 15th hole to get to 7-under. Nelson, who was playing three groups ahead, got up and down from a bunker at No. 18 to tie Inman.

"To be honest, I didn't even know we were tied for the lead until I was done," Inman said. "I never even looked at the board."

Since Atlanta Country Club is just a two-hour drive from Greystone, Inman expected many club members to support him and Nelson on Sunday. But Inman said he'd probably receive the bulk of the cheers.

"They're all so supportive of both of us, but I'm there playing more often than he is," said Inman, who joked about having free time on his hands since he was fired as a sales representative for PING in 1997.

First-round leader Bob Duval shot a 1-over 73 today to fall three strokes off the lead.

DIVOTS: Morgan, bothered by a lower back injury for more than a month, shot a 68 today to stay within two strokes of the leader. He said his back was feeling the best it had all week. "I was able to hit the ball more aggressively than I had been earlier this week," he said. ... Isao Aoki, who was 2-over after the first round, shot a season-low 66 today to pull into a six-way tie at 4-under. Tour leader Bruce Fleisher rebounded from a 75 Friday by shooting a 67. ... Defending champion Hubert Green of nearby Birmingham was at even par after shooting a 70 today.