Golf: Wilkinson fires low in Texas

Tim Wilkinson carded a five-under par 67 to be in a share of third place at the WNB Golf Classic. Photo / Ross Setford

Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson carded a five-under par 67 to be in a share of third place at the WNB Golf Classic on the web.com Tour in Texas this morning.

The former PGA Tour pro, currently 59th on the web.com money list, is one shot back from leaders Americans Aaron Goldberg and Jamie Lovemark.

Wilkinson made four birdies on the front nine for a four-under 32. He added two more and a bogey coming home to sign for a 67.

The left-hander, whose best result for 2012 is a tie for ninth at the Panama Claro Championship, needs a big finish to the season to qualify for the PGA Tour.

Steven Alker, currently 87th on the money list, carded a two-under par 70 to be in a share of 26th place.

Wilkinson and Alker need to finish inside the top 25 on the web.com Tour money list to qualify for the PGA Tour in 2013.

Danny Lee, who is playing the web.com Tour after missing out on the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs, carded an even-par 72 to be in a share of 57th place.

The 21-year-old Rotorua professional climbed to 157th on the web.com money list after finishing tied 13th last week in Idaho. He will return to the PGA Tour for the Fall Series in a bid to keep his PGA Tour card.

Meanwhile, on the Japan Golf Tour, New Zealand amateur rep Vaughan McCall is the best of the Kiwis at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open.

The 21-year-old from the Gore Golf Club, who will represent New Zealand at the Eisenhower in Turkey in early October, has opened with a one-under par 70 to be in a share of 54th place after round one.

McCall had four birdies and three bogeys in his round to be eight shots back from the leader Japan's Yuta Ikeda.

McCall's Eisenhower team-mate Mathew Perry, of the Hamilton Golf Club, carded a one-over par 72 to be in a share of 80th place alongside rookie professional Ryan Fox.

All three golfers need good scores in round two to make the cut at the Panasonic event.