Japan's Ryuji Imada, who has never finished higher than fifth place on the USPGA tour, fired a three-under par 69 on Saturday to remain tied for the lead after three rounds of the ATT Classic.
US player Troy Matteson also shot a 69 on Saturday as the pair began the day tied for the lead at 10-under.
They are at 13-under 203 and have a two-stroke lead over Camilo Villegas, who fired a four under in the third round to get to 11-under for the event.
Matt Kuchar surged into contention by shooting an eight-under 64 and is just three strokes off the pace, along with Lee Janzen and Zach Johnson.
"I don't think I'll be getting too nervous," Imada said when asked about playing in the final group with Matteson yesterday.
Friends Imada and Matteson have more in common than just shooting identical scores.
"I slept well last night and it's not like I'm waiting by myself," Imada said.
"Troy and I have been friends for a little while and, you know, we were pretty relaxed out there talking a little bit and it was just a fun day," Imada said. "And I think tomorrow is going to be about the same."
Imada and Matteson know each other from their college days in Georgia.
Imada was a golfer for the University of Georgia and Matteson played for rival Georgia Tech University.
"It was fun to see people pulling for me as a Georgia Bulldog and Troy, as a Yellow Jacket," Imada said. "It was a lot of fun, people yelling and chanting. But not between us."
Matteson said: "Seemed like there were an even number of fans that came out for him and for me."
"It was fun to hear the `go dogs' and the `go yellow jackets' all day," he said. "It's just great when you can involve people like that and I think that's going to help make those crowds a little bigger, being that there's still some Georgia and Georgia Tech players in the field."
Imada is seeking his first PGA win and never has finished higher than fifth on the tour. Matteson won his first tour event in October at the Frys.com Open.
"It's been interesting some of the groups I've been in and I was extremely lucky last year to win in Vegas because it's really the first time I've put myself in that situation for that long," he said. "Hopefully I can draw on that a little bit."
Imada was even-par through the front nine on Saturday after a bogey and birdie. Though he bogeyed the par-four 14th on the back nine, he also dropped in four birdies.
"I think about [winning a tour event]," he said. "I think about it when I'm practicing or whatever, but everybody has got to win their first event sometime."
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