Arjun Atwal made good improvement in the second round with a three-under 67 to make the midway cut at Fort Smith Classic golf tournament in Fort Smith (Arkansas) on Friday.

Atwal, who is dividing his time between Nationwide and PGA Tours, was at an aggregate of three-under 137, to be tied 51st.

He had an even par 70 on first day. He was on the cut line, which saw no less than 17 players. Starting out on the first tee, Atwal birdied the third, fourth and sixth and without any bogeys he turned in three-under and then added a fourth birdie on 12th. On the 14th, he had his only blemish with a bogey on the par-four hole.

Local resident Craig Lile (64) overtook Scott Gutschewski (67) at the top of the leaderboard. Lile is now 10-under and one ahead of Gutschewski. Lile, who had a 65 in first round had a fine stretch between second and nine, when he fired five birdies during it.

Lile, who has a card on PGA Tour, has been dividing his time between Nationwide and PGA Tours. He entered Fort Smith, because he was unable to get into this week's Wachovia Championship.

Colombian Camilo Benedetti (66), PGA TOUR member Michael Boyd (66) and Jon Mills (66) are two shots off the pace at 9-under 131.