Miami, FL (My Sportsbook) - Andrew Buckle fired a seven-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Miccosukee Championship, the last event on the Nationwide Tour before next week's Tour Championship.

The top 60 players on the money list after this week gain entrance into the Tour Championship next week. The top 25 players in earnings after that get their PGA Tour card for 2010 and Buckle is right in the mix.

Buckle was 28th on the money list at the beginning of this championship and if there are butterflies, he's not showing it.

"I don't think there is any pressure this week," said Buckle. "You know you have to play well and just try to do the best that you can every day, on every shot. That's all I can do, really. I have no control over what the others do. I only have control over what I can do."

Troy Merritt, who is 33rd on the money list, is alone in second at six-under 65.

Josh Broadaway, Brendan Steele, Justin Smith and Brian Smock -- all outside the top 60 -- are knotted in third place at five-under 66.

Buckle parred his first two holes, then broke into red figures with a birdie at the par-four third. He added birdies at the par-five fifth and par-four ninth to make the turn at three-under.

The Australian made it two in a row with a birdie at the par-five 10th. Buckle birdied every other hole until the 16th, which took him to seven-under par for the championship.

Buckle, who won the 2006 Virginia Beach Open, parred the last two for the first-round lead.

"Everything was solid," said Buckle, who had three consecutive top-10 finishes in September. "I drove the ball well, my irons were good and, of course, I putted well. My concentration was good. I hit a lot of fairways, which helped. My patience was good today and that helped a lot."

Ian Leggatt, Jay Delsing, Brian Stuard, D.J. Brigman, Won Joon Lee, Cameron Percy and Camilo Benedetti are tied for seventh place at four-under-par 67.