Arjun Atwal closes in on shock maiden title

India's Arjun Atwal was looking to defend a three-stroke lead as he went into the final round of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina last night, seeking his maiden PGA Tour title.

The world number 450 only qualified for the tournament on Monday last week and after firing a course-record equalling 61 in the opening round was on course for a memorable success at 17-under.

The 37-year-old played the Sedgefield Country Club in a solid five-under-par in a round that contained six birdies after he had bogeyed the par-4 fourth. His playing partner, and joint-overnight leader, Brandt Snedeker lost touch with the lead late on as he made back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17 to finish four strokes adrift.

Atwal's closest challengers are Lucas Glover, Scott Piercy and Scott McCarron, while Kevin Na equalled Atwal's course-record equalling 61 to give himself hope on 12 under - the same mark as Scotland's Martin Laird and Sweden's Richard Johnson who were the best placed of the European challengers.

Atwal lost his Tour card last month and was aiming to become the first Monday qualifier to win since Fred Wadsworth at the Southern Open in 1986.