LA QUINTA, Calif., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Dean Wilson, who has played golf around the world in hopes of eventually making it onto the PGA Tour, fired a 7-under-par 65 Thursday to take the second-round lead at tour's National Qualifying Tournament.
Wilson finished the second of six rounds at 10-under-par 134 and held a one-stroke advantage over Jeff Brehaut (64) and Anthony Painter (68).
Wilson's bogey-free round included seven birdies at the PGA West's Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course, the host course for the PGA Tour's longest and most grueling tournament of the season. The event is also being played on the TPC Stadium Course.
The top 35 players and those tied for 35th place will earn their way onto next year's tour.
"It's the first time that I have ever really gotten off to a good start," said Wilson, who is making his fourth appearance in the event. "I know that it is a marathon instead of a sprint. You just try to take one shot at a time and play the best that you can for six solid days."
Wilson, a native of Hawaii and a resident of Las Vegas, has won six times on the Japan Tour over the last three seasons. He finished second on the money list in Japan last year.
Brehaut's 64 at the Stadium Course was the round of the day and shattered the course record set by Corey Pavin (67) at the 1987 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Barry Cheesman fired a 3-under-par 69 on the Stadium Course to lead a pack of five players at 7-under-par 137, three shots off the lead.
Other players of note included Andy Miller (tied for ninth), Bob May (tied for 12th), Franklin Langham (tied for 40th), Curt Byrum (tied for 58th), Steve Pate (tied for 58th), Casey Martin (tied for 73rd) and former U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson (tied for 133rd).
