Atwal matched Carl Pettersson's 2-year-old mark at the par-70 Sedgefield Country Club. He was 9 under through the first round of the US PGA Tour's final event before the playoffs.

Brandt Snedeker, who won this event in 2007, shot a 63.

John Rollins, Kevin Streelman, Lucas Glover, Boo Weekley, David Toms and Jeev Milkha Singh were at 64, and six players shot 65s during an occasionally wet day that left the greens soft and the leaderboard crowded at Sedgefield.

It was an encouraging start for Atwal, who lost his tour card last month and had to play his way into this event in a Monday qualifier across town at Forest Oaks Country Club _ where this tournament was held from 1977-2007.

He played that course twice before, finishing sixth in 2004, and wound up shooting a 67 to share first place with three other qualifiers. No Monday qualifier has won a tournament since Fred Wadsworth did it at the 1986 Southern Open.

“You get used to making a lot of birdies in the Monday qualifier — otherwise you won't make it,” Atwal said.

“I kind of continued that today.” The loss of his card capped a series of events that began when he injured his shoulders last year while lifting weights. He received a minor medical extension, but when he came up short on the money list following the RBC Canadian Open, his card was history.

He isn't eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs that begin next week in New Jersey, not even if he wins. But he can claim his card for 2011 with a victory — either here or at a fall series tournament — or a climb up the money lists of the PGA or Nationwide tours.

“I prefer to win,” Atwal said with a laugh.

Three more days like this, and he'll almost certainly take care of that.

Atwal started his bogey-free round on the back nine, made the turn at 4 under and birdied three of his final four holes, sinking a 7-foot putt on No. 9 to cap things.

His big day also included a rare birdie on the peskiest hole of the day — the 18th.

There were a course-low 10 birdies and a course-high 54 bogeys on the freshly lengthened, 507-yard par 4 that wound up knocking several players down a peg on the leaderboard.

Snedeker, who was at 8 under through 17, sent his second shot onto the back fringe on 18, chipped well past the pin and left his 35-foot par putt about 3 feet short to close with a bogey and fall off the lead.
 
Pariya widens gap in Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia

In Kuala Lumpur, Thailand's Pariya Junhasavasdikul stretched his lead in the 60,000-dollar Mercedes-Benz Masters Malaysia Friday on a day which saw the cream rise to the top with some brilliant low scoring.

Pariya, the leader by one at the start of the day, opened up a three-shot advantage after carding a third round six-under-par 66 at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.

He leads on 13-under-par 203 from Singapore's Mardan Mamat who stormed back into contention with a 65.

Malaysia's Danny Chia also moved up the leaderboard after returning a 67 and is in solo possession of third place, four shots behind Pariya.

Pariya, chasing his second victory on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, produced his best round of the week, nailing seven birdies, and his only blemish came on the final hole where he made a bogey.

"I am delighted -- can't complain about six under," said Pariya, 26. "I am sticking to my plan of playing positive golf and not holding back. I did not play the par fives well, that was the only disappointment."

Pariya would have had a more considerable lead if it had not been for a fine round by Mamat.

The Singaporean, who is currently fasting for Ramadhan, was the first round leader with a 66 but struggled home in 75 on the second day.

However, he produced a stirring fight back on Friday with eight birdies and one dropped shot.

"That felt good and certainly made up for yesterday. I have a chance now but will need a low round tomorrow," said Mamat.

Chia leads the Malaysian challenge despite nursing a bad back which he picked up playing in the British Open last month.

"I am getting better every day but I think Pariya will be hard to beat. It makes for a good three ball in the final flight tomorrow," said Chia.