Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Four-time Nationwide Tour winner under 64 on Friday to forge a three-way tie atop the leaderboard at the Jacksonville Open.
Coles, whose victories range from 2002-08, had seven birdies and a bogey at TPC Sawgrass to join a pair of winless players in first. Brian Stuard, who finished third at the Chiquita Classic, also shot a six-under 64, while Tim Wilkinson, an 18-hole co-leader, shot a three-under 67 to get to six-under 134 overall.
This is the last full-field event of the 2011 Nationwide Tour season before the Nationwide Tour Championship, and the three leaders have a lot to gain with a win this week.
Coles, 45th on the money list, appears to be safely in the top 60 and will likely make it to the tour championship, where the top 25 players will receive their 2012 PGA Tour card. Wilkinson and Stuard, however, entered this week 70th and 77th, respectively, and can get into the last event with a solid finish this week.
Scott Gardiner (64), 87th on the money list, shares fourth with PGA Tour hopeful James Nitties (67), who is 21st. Jonas Blixt (67) is in sixth at minus-four.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
