Arjun Atwal followed up his opening-round 61 with a three-under 67 Friday to assume a share of the lead at the halfway point of the Wyndham Championship. The Indian was tied with American Brandt Snedeker (65) at 12-under 128, one stroke ahead of Americans Lucas Glover, John Rollins and Kevin Streelman on a day that dawned cloudy but soon gave way to brilliant sunshine. Atwal, 37, does not have exempt status on tour, so the quickest way to regain his card is by winning. Co-leader Snedeker won in Greensboro three years ago, the final year the tournament was held at Forest Oaks before moving to its current venue at Sedgefield Country Club. “The courses are different (but) they're the same kind of grass and greens, very similar to what I grew up on,” said the 29-year-old Tennessean. Glover improved his position with a 65. The clock is ticking for last year's US Open champion to impress Corey Pavin enough to earn a captain's pick on the American team to defend the Ryder Cup against Europe in October. “Corey knows how bad I want to play and make the team and to do that I have got to relax and play golf and shoot good scores,” said Glover. Anthony Kim, who barely failed to make the team after finishing ninth in the standings, did not help his cause for a captain's pick when he missed the cut, which fell at three-under 137. Others to bow out early included Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Mike Weir and last year's champion, Ryan Moore. Miyazato ahead Japan's Ai Miyazato fired a six-under 66 Friday for the first-round lead at the LPGA Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Miyazato had a one-stroke lead on Taiwan's Teresa Lu and Jee Young Lee of South Korea. Miyazato is in a five-way tussle for the world's top ranking with American Cristie Kerr, Jiyai Shin of South Korea, Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Yani Tseng of Taiwan. Since the retirement of Lorena Ochoa earlier this year, Miyazato, Kerr and Shin have traded the top ranking six times in the past three months. Tseng shot a three-over 75 at the Safeway. South Korea's Chella Choi, Taiwan's Amy Hung, Japan's Momoko Ueda and American Brittany Lincicome were two strokes off the lead with four-under 68s. Veteran Juli Inkster joined a large group at three-under. Defending champion M.J. Hur shot a 74. Kerr shot a 70. Michelle Wie was at even par going into Saturday's second round.
