Quinney, Gainey share 1st-round lead at Wyndham event

Associated Press

GREENSBORO, N.C.

If Jeff Quinney keeps this up, he might soon have a new PGA Tour card — and a spot in the playoffs.

Quinney and Tommy Gainey shot 7-under 63s on Thursday to share the lead after one round in the Wyndham Championship.

Quinney had eight birdies, including five in a row early in his round, to start strong in his last chance to qualify for golf’s postseason.

Gainey had five birdies and an eagle in matching his career-best round. Both players are chasing their first PGA Tour victory.

Stuart Appleby had a 64. Ten players — Paul Casey, Carl Pettersson, Ernie Els, Jason Bohn, Jimmy Walker, Tim Herron, Lee Janzen, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh and George McNeill — shot 65s during another low-scoring day at Sedgefield Country Club.

Quinney arrived in 215th place in the FedEx Cup standings. A win — and the 500 points that accompany it — would put him in The Barclays.

“The only chance I get in the playoffs is probably winning this week, and coming with the attitude of ‘all-in,”’ Quinney said. “Basically, just push all your chips in, and this is what I got.”

A year ago, a close-but-not-enough finish on this course left Quinney outside the playoff field. He wound up in 126th place, falling short of the postseason by three points.

He spent most of the first day of his return to the par-70 Sedgefield layout near the top of the leaderboard after his early flurry of birdies.

Starting on the back nine, Quinney birdied Nos. 12-16 to move to 5 under. After a bogey on No. 18, he added three more birdies on his final nine holes and closed by sticking his 140-yard approach shot within 3 feet and sinking that putt for his eighth birdie.

“It’s my last chance, and don’t hold back, try to get out of my own way,” Quinney said.

Quinney, who has conditional status on the tour, is playing just his 11th tournament of the year.

“Once you do get in, you put a little pressure on yourself,” Quinney said. “It’s been frustrating.”