Ken Duke and Charlie Wi both shot 64 to finish the first day of the John Deere Classic at the head of the leaderboard.
With many of the PGA Tour''s top names already in Europe preparing for next week''s Open Championship, the event at TPC Deere Run represents a good opportunity for others to climb the FedEx Cup table.
Duke currently sits in 99th in the standings and Wi 97th, but clinching the $756,000 (£382,000) first prize could go a long way towards changing that.
In order to achieve victory they are likely to have to hold off a challenge from in-form TaylorMade professional Kenny Perry, who carded a 65 to leave him tied for third with Eric Axley, Will MacKenzie and Garrett Wills.
England''s Brian Davis and former Open champion Tom Lehman are both in contention after recording 67s, with Major winners Rich Beem and Mark Calcavecchia in a group two shots further back. |