PGA Elder has lead over eight other players

The third-year pro needs a victory to avoid a second straight trip to the PGA qualifying tournament.
MADISON, Miss. (AP) -- All the work Brad Elder has been doing on his swing is starting to produce some promising results.
Overcoming a slow start, Elder made nine birdies and shot a 7-under-par 65 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Eight players opened with 66s, including defending champion Cameron Beckman, rookie Jonathan Byrd, who won his first PGA Tour title last week, and Tommy Tolles, whose adventurous first round included a 40-yard par save.
The 27-year-old Elder is in his third season on the PGA Tour, with his game slipping each year. He was 68th on the money list in 2000 and 128th last year. He entered the final week of the season 173rd, meaning he'll need to win this event to avoid a second straight trip to the qualifying tournament.
Working on his game
He has been working with a coach on his swing for about six months.
"I'm changing my swing because this is my third year out here and I want to get better and I want to improve," he said.
"One of my weaknesses has been ball striking. My driving is usually good, but it has faltered over the past few years."
Elder said he is trying to keep his club out in front of his body more and his left wrist flatter at the top of his swing.
"It's been a long process, but it's been well worth it. I'm just happy to see the results today," he said.
The weather was cool, clear and breezy Thursday, but the 7,199-yard Annandale course was still showing the effects of about 13 inches of rain that fell in the area over the last five weeks.
Conditions were so soggy that players were allowed to lift, clean and place balls in the fairway. Players often refer to the provision as "lift, clean and cheat" because of their ability to take advantage of perfect lies.
It didn't help Elder early as he was 2 over after three holes.
"I didn't hit my first green until the fourth hole," he said. "But I hung in there and played well."
Elder's final birdie gave him the lead on the par-5 18th. He was about 70 feet from the hole when he chipped onto the green with a wedge, then made a 6-footer to reach 7 under.
Wild round
Tolles put together Thursday's wildest round. Along with his long chip on No. 2, he holed out twice from bunkers -- once for birdie and once for eagle -- and made a 25-foot birdie putt from the fringe on No. 4.
"Players always complain that breaks never go their way. I'm no different from anybody else," he said. "But today I got multiple good breaks."
Kirk Triplett, Luke Donald, Eduardo Herrera, Deane Pappas and Jonathan Kaye also shot 66s.
The final stop on the PGA Tour marks the last shot for players to earn playing privileges for next season. The top 125 on the money list are fully exempt in 2003. Those outside the top 125 have to earn their tour cards in Q School.