TORONTO, June 24: Jim Furyk fired a sizzling six-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the Barclays Classic in Harrison, New York on Thursday, forging three shots clear of a chasing pack led by world number two Vijay Singh.

American Furyk, 35, searching for his first win in two years, mixed two birdies with one bogey on the front nine at the Westchester Country Club.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion caught fire after the turn, carding five birdies including two in a row at the 17th and 18th.

Three strokes adrift on 68 were Fijian Singh, champion at Westchester in 1993 and 1995, Americans John Rollins, Brian Bateman and Kenny Perry, Ian Leggatt of Canada and Japan’s Hidemichi Tanaka.

Tanaka briefly grabbed the lead at four-under before a double-bogey on the par-four 13th dropped him back.

While Singh, who claimed his first career title at Westchester 12 years ago, was pleased with his score he was frustrated with the pace of play, which has been a topic of debate on the PGA Tour in recent weeks.

65 - Jim Furyk

68 - Brian Bateman, Ian Leggatt (CAN), Kenny Perry, John Rollins, Hidemichi Tanaka (JPN), Vijay Singh (FIJ)

69 - Fred Funk, Brian Gay, J.L. Lewis, Joe Ogilvie, John Senden (AUS), Pat Sheehan

70 - Jeff Brehaut, Tom Byrum, Bill Glasson, Lucas Glover, Paul Gow (AUS), J.P. Hayes, Mathias Gronberg (SWE), David Hearn (CAN), Skip Kendall, Larry Mize, Pat Perez, Tom Pernice, Kevin Sutherland, Omar Uresti

71 - Steve Allan (AUS), Padraig Harrington (IRL)

72 - Alex Cejka, Gavin Coles (AUS), Sergio Garcia (SPA), Fredrik Jacobson (SWE), Brendan Jones (AUS), Stephen Leaney (AUS), Michael Long (NZL), Greg Owen (GBR)

73 - Scott Hend (AUS), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Tjaart Van Der Walt (RSA)

74 - Tim Clark (RSA), Jose Coceres (ARG), Steve Elkington (AUS), Justin Rose (GBR)

75 - Daniel Chopra (SWE), Gabriel Hjertstedt (SWE), Craig Parry (AUS), Hideto Tanihara (JPN), Euan Walters (AUS)

76 - K.J. Choi (KOR)

77 - Craig Perks (NZL)

78 - Glen Hnatiuk (CAN), Phillip Price (GBR)

79 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA)

85 - Bradley Hughes (AUS).—Agencies