Doug Dunakey, struggling to prove his round of 59 in 1998 was not a fluke, fired a six-under par 65 at Hilton Head, South Carolina, yesterday to share the lead at a $3.5 million PGA event.

Dunakey, among only six players in professional history to have fired a round of 59, joined Fiji's Vijay Singh and Billy Mayfair as co-leaders after 18 holes over the Harbour Town Golf Links.

The 37-year-old has never won or taken runner-up honours in a PGA event in 71 tries and has been unable to crack the top 45 in eight events this year.

But while playing on the developmental tour three years ago, Dunakey fired a round of 59 at the Miami Valley Open, three-putting from 25 feet at the closing hole to squander a chance at immortality.

"I was hoping to forget that story," said Dunakey. While not a 59, Dunakey had five back-nine birdies in his best round of the year.

"Yeah, it was a long ways from 59, but it was a pretty solid round," he said. "I think I made one bad swing on seven coming in and made bogey there. But otherwise, I was real pleased."

Padraig Harrington had to settle for a 71.

Singh had the only bogey-free score among the leaders and has broken par in 33 consecutive rounds to start his PGA season. He is coming off a share of 18th at the Masters.