Atwal, who has missed 11 cuts in his first 13 starts of the season, has had better luck since having made the cuts in his last five starts but his best of the year has been tied 19th at St Jude Classic, where he closed with a 66, his best round of the year.
Atwal birdied the second, but gave away shots on the sixth, eighth and 10th. He had two back-nine birdies on 12th and 18th for his 71.
Troy Matteson sank 10 birdies on his way to a 10-under 61 to take the lead, while Steve Stricker, looking for a third straight John Deere title, was tied at third with 65.
Matteson had five birdies on ether side of the turn and did not have any bogeys. He almost got to a 60 when he nearly holed out from a bunker on the ninth but then settled for par.
In the second place was Ricky Barnes (64) while Robert Garrigus was among the group tied at 65.