Daniel Nisbet doesn't want to talk about the past.

The details are a click away, he said. He's not going to offer many more thoughts on his forced time away from competitive golf.

The Aussie, in the United States for a summer of playing some top amateur events, wants to focus on his golf now, thanks, with the goal of eventually playing professionally. Everything else is for the search engines.

Nisbet fired a 66 Friday on Berkeley Hall's South Course and, at 9-under par, enjoys a three-shot lead over Florida State's Daniel Berger at the halfway point of the Players Amateur.

Nisbet made eight birdies and two bogeys on a course several said was set up tougher than Thursday, with tricky pins forcing players to think about which side they wanted to avoid.

First-round leader Bobby Wyatt shot a 1-over 73 and is four shots back. California golfer Michael Weaver shot 70 Friday to join Wyatt at 5 under.

They'll chase Nisbet to start the third round. The top-ranked amateur in Golf Australia's Australian Amateur ranking has climbed to No. 40 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He has several more stops in the States, including next month's U.S. Amateur.

Nisbet has worked to rebuild his golf resume after serving an 18-month suspension from competitive golf. In August 2009, Australian customs found Nisbet in possession of a product containing an anabolic steroid, according to an Associated Press report. The suspension was delivered by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency, which found that Nisbet was not using the product to cheat at golf, that there was no evidence he took the steroid and that he cooperated with the investigation.

Nisbet kept his game sharp away from tournament golf while working and studying, and returned in May 2011 with a strong finish.

"So I knew it was still there," Nisbet said. "It's just been (about) progressing and keep getting towards my goal, which is the pro tour."

He hopes to add his name to a list of Players Am champions that includes several noteworthy professionals. But 36 holes remain.

Wyatt, who led after a first-round 66, said he was OK after sliding Friday. He made an eagle on the par-5 17th, chasing a 3-iron from 248 yards, to help salvage his round.

"I'm in a good position with 36 holes to play," Wyatt said. "That's all I can ask for. It was definitely a struggle there."

Berger, who followed his opening 67 with a 71 and is 6 under, said pins required more thought Friday. His goal was to not shoot himself out of the tournament, and after a double bogey on the par-5 12th, he closed with three birdies over his final six holes.

"I'm proud of myself for hanging in there," Berger said.

Weaver also held his round together after making the turn in 33. He salvaged a bogey after driving in the water on No. 12, and on the par-4 18th, he rolled in a long par putt to remain 5 under for the tournament.

"Today, you really had to think your way around the course a little bit and be alert out there," Weaver said. "... If you had told me 70 at the beginning of the day, I'd have been pleased with that for sure."

The Players Amateur

At Bluffton, Berkeley Hall Golf Club, South Course, par 72

Second round

Daniel Nisbet 69-66-135

Daniel Berger 67-71-138

Bobby Wyatt 66-73-139

Michael Weaver 69-70-139

Blayne Barber 69-71-140

Ben Campbell 71-69-140

Anders Albertson 71-70-141

Matthew NeSmith 70-73-143

Ryan McCarthy 71-72-143

Cody Proveaux 73-70-143

Brinson Paolini 73-70-143

Keith Mitchell 73-70-143

Sean Dale 71-72-143

Andrew Mason 69-75-144

Brett Drewitt 72-72-144

Austin Cody 72-72-144

Justin Shin 72-72-144

Richard Lamb 73-71-144

Andrew Yun 76-69-145

Geoffrey Drakeford 73-72-145

AJ Crouch 73-72-145

Kramer Hickok 71-74-145

Tucker Wadkins 74-71-145

Bo Andrews 72-74-146

Anthony Paolucci 73-73-146

Max Homa 72-74-146

Rory Bourke 76-70-146

JD Tomlinson 73-73-146

Zander Lombard 73-74-147

Michael Hebert 73-74-147

Carlton Forrester 74-73-147

Dominic Bozzelli 71-76-147

Jake Higginbottom 73-75-148

Cameron Smith 72-76-148

Ryan Heisey 74-74-148

James White 72-76-148

Matthew Stieger 75-73-148

Jeffrey Kang 78-70-148

Ji Soo Park 74-74-148

Tyler McCumber 76-72-148

Oliver Schniederjans 70-78-148

Zachary Herr 77-72-149

Ben Kohles 73-76-149

Ben Fogler 74-75-149

Oliver Goss 73-76-149

Cory Whitsett 70-79-149

Minghao Wang 72-77-149

Curtis Thompson 74-76-150

Luke McClellan 75-75-150

Richy Werenski 76-74-150

John Voetsch 77-73-150

Michael Johnson 76-74-150

Bobby Hudson 73-77-150

Crawford Reeves 76-75-151

Michael Balzer 75-76-151

Rob Simmons 75-77-152

Mitch Gray 75-78-153

T.J. Mitchell 74-79-153

Chase Parker 76-77-153

Hunter Stewart 74-79-153

Anthony Murdaca 79-74-153

Cody Martin 73-80-153

Mills Rendell 75-78-153

Michael Cromie 78-75-153

Mathew Perry 75-78-153

Patrick Grimes 75-79-154

Shane Lebow 74-80-154

Todd Sinnott 73-81-154

Nick Sherwood 80-74-154

Nick Gilliam 79-76-155

Matt Cheng 80-76-156

Billy Kennerly 77-79-156

Fraser Wilkin 79-77-156

Nathan Holman 78-80-158

Daniel Hendry 77-81-158

Marcel Puyat 81-78-159

Zachary Olsen 79-81-160

Conrad Ray 80-80-160

Steven Kearney 84-82-166

Rick LaRose 90-85-175

Peter Mathison 90-91-181

Third round pairings

7:15 a.m.: Steven Kearny, Rick LaRose, Peter Mathison

7:25 a.m.: Marcel Puyat, Zachary Olsen, Conrad Ray

7:35 a.m.: Matt Cheng, Nathan Holman, Daniel Hendry

7:45 a.m.: Nick Gilliam, Billy Kennerly, Fraser Wilkin

7:55 a.m.: Nick Sherwood, Patrick Grimes, Shane Lebow

8:05 a.m.: Mitch Gray, T.J. Mitchell, Todd Sinnott

8:15 a.m.: Mathew Perry, Cody Martin, Hunter Stewart

8:25 a.m.: Mills Rendell, Chase Parker, Michael Cromie

8:35 a.m.: Crawford Reeves, Rob SImmons, Anthony Murdaca

8:45 a.m.: Curtis Thompson, Bobby Hudson, Michael Balzer

8:55 a.m.: Richy Werenski, Michael Johnson, Luke McClellan

9:05 a.m.: Cory Whitsett, Minghao Wang, John Voetsch

9:15 a.m.: Ben Fogler, Oliver Goss, Ben Kohles

9:25 a.m.: Oliver Schniederjans, Ji Soo Park, Zachary Herr

9:35 a.m.: Cameron Smith, Jake Higginbottom, Matthew Stieger

9:45 a.m.: Tyler McCumber, James White, Ryan Heisey

9:55 a.m.: Zander Lombard, Michael Hebert, Jeffrey Kang

10:05 a.m.: Rory Bourke, Dominic Bozzelli, Carlton Forrester

10:15 a.m.: Anthony Paolucci, JD Tomlinson, Max Homa

10:25 a.m.: Kramer Hickok, Andrew Yun, Bo Andrews

10:35 a.m.: Tucker Wadkins, Geoffrey Drakeford, AJ Crouch

10:45 a.m.: Austin Cody, Andrew Mason, Justin Shin

10:55 a.m.: Matthew NeSmith, Bradd Drewitt, Richard Lamb

11:05 a.m.: Keith Mitchell, Brinson Paolini, Cody Proveaux

11:15 a.m.: Anders Albertson, Ryan McCarthy, Sean Dale

11:25 a.m. Bobby Wyatt, Blayne Barber, Ben Campbell

11:35 a.m.: Daniel Nisbet, Daniel Berger, Michael Weaver