Manawatu golfer Tim Wilkinson has begun the Utah Championship with a five-under-par 66 earning him a share of fifth place.
He needs to finish inside the top 25 on the web.com Tour, formerly the Nationwide Tour, to automatically qualify for the PGA Tour in 2013.
Until now his best finish for 2012 was a tie for ninth at the Panama Championship.
Meanwhile the New Zealand number one Danny Lee is middle of the pack at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour.
Lee, 21, is currently 157th on the Fed Ex Cup Standings, and made two late birdies on 16 and 17 to finish on a one under total in a share of 84th place.
The former US Amateur Champion needs a sub-par round on Saturday at the TPC Deere Run course to make the cut in Illinois.
