CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Jason Dufner, needing a high finish to keep his PGA Tour card, shot a 7-under 65 Thursday for a one-shot lead at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.
Dufner earned his way onto the tour this year by finishing 10th on last year's Nationwide Tour money list. But he ranks only 186th in earnings this year with $206,795.
The top 125 money winners qualify for the 2005 season and this is the next-to-last full-field event of 2004.
Dufner had a bogey-free round and was a stroke in front of Brent Geiberger, Tom Pernice, Bo Van Pelt, Brendan Pappas and Bret Quigley.
Among those tied for seventh at 67 was Hank Kuehne, the tour's biggest hitter who recorded a drive of 360 yards Thursday at the par-5 ninth.
There were 29 players within three shots of the lead after the opening round.
