GREENSBORO, N.C., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Tommy Gainey shot a 29 on the opening nine Thursday and went on to share the first-round lead with Jeff Quinney at the Wyndham Championship.
Ernie Els moved into position to grab a spot in the season-ending playoffs and PGA Championship runner-up Jason Dufner had a solid round as well in the final event of the tour's regular campaign.
Gainey and Quinney both had a 7-under 63 at the Sedgefield Country Club. Both are in search of their first tour victory, although Gainey has had five Top 10 finishes in a breakout year.
Stuart Appleby, seeking to regain the form that made him one of golf's leading figures early in this century, was alone in third at 64. Appleby has nine tour victories but only one in the last five years. He has failed to finish 12 of his last 14 starts.
Els was part of a large group at 65 that included Paul Casey, Lee Janzen, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh.
The top 125 point earners at the end of this tournament will qualify for the start of the playoffs, which consist of four tournaments and begin next week.
Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion, started this event in 126th place and needs a relatively high finish to ensure he will be a part of the playoffs.
Dufner shot a 66 Thursday that left him tied for 14th place. He lost in a three-hole playoff to Keegan Bradley at last week's PGA Championship in Atlanta. Bradley is not entered this week.
