India’s Atwal regains Wyndham lead

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - India’s Arjun Atwal fired a 65 to compile a three-shot lead at the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship as Kevin Na tied the tournament record with a nine-under 61 on Saturday.

Atwal also fired a 61 for the first-round lead and was co-leader after round two. The 37-year-old reached 54 holes at 17-under 193 and is three strokes clear of the field.

“I’ve never won on the PGA Tour, but I’ve won on almost every other tour I’ve played on,” Atwal said. “And I don’t see why it’s going to be different trying to win a tournament here.”

American Scott McCarron closed his 63 with four straight birdies and was at 196 with Scott Piercy (64) and Lucas Glover (67). Will MacKenzie (65), Garrett Willis (65), David Toms (65), Justin Leonard (66), John Rollins (68) and second-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker (69) were at 197. Na, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, wound up five strokes back at 198 at the Sedgefield Country Club.

Na reached the Wyndham round record of 61, marking the second time in three days it was done. Going off in the morning’s first pairing, Na took full advantage of the fresh greens with seven birdies through 17 holes and an eagle on No. 5. When he got to the 18th, he took aim at one more birdie.

“Honestly, you know, I wanted the course record,” Na said.

But the 40-footer wouldn’t fall and he two-putted for par, settling for sharing the mark with Carl Pettersson (2008) and Atwal.

AFP