Matt Every shoots course-record 63 to take lead in Nationwide Tour Championship

Every shoots 63 to lead Nationwide Tour finale

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Matt Every shot a course-record 9-under 63 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.

Every, 49th on the money list, needs to finish solo third or higher to possibly move into the final top 25 — the cutoff for 2010 PGA Tour cards.

The 25-year-old former University of Florida player had an 11-under 133 total on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek Course. He had 10 birdies and a bogey to break the course record of 64 set Thursday by money leader Michael Sim.

“When I got done yesterday I thought 2-under par was good and then I saw on the scoreboard Michael birdied eight holes in a row and I thought there was no way, that’s wrong, and it wasn’t,” Every said.

“It was great out there today. Early in the round I was hitting everything to within 6 feet of the hole. I feel like I’m playing good again so it’s fun.”

Sim (70) and fellow Australian Cameron Percy (65) were tied for second, Fabian Gomez (65) was 9 under, and Jerod Turner (64) and Josh Teater (67) followed at 8 under.

Every bogeyed the par-4 10th hole.

“No. 10 was a good bogey,” said Every, who has missed 10 cuts in 25 events this year. “I pull-hooked my tee shot into the left sand trap. When I got to my ball I noticed I didn’t have a stance. I wound up chunking it into the next sand trap. Then I proceeded to chunk it again, this time into the fairway about 50 yards away. I got up and down for my bogey and I was pleased with a 5.”

Sim, who turned 25 on Friday, eagled the par-4 second hole and birdied No. 3 to get to 11 under. After dropping three strokes on the back nine, be birdied the par-5 18th. After the birdie, the crowd sang “Happy Birthday.”

“It lightens the mood,” Sim said. “I was kind of beating my head there on the back nine and to come in and hear people singing to you is a nice way to finish.”

Percy birdied four of his final five holes.