Crossword Genius

Marks the road surface obtains (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

targets

'marks' is the definition.
(I know this)

'road surface obtains' is the wordplay.
'road surface' becomes 'tar' (I've seen this in another clue).
'obtains' becomes 'gets' ('get' can be a synonym of 'obtain').
'tar'+'gets'='TARGETS'

'the' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for targets that I've seen before include "Goals" , "Aim points" , "Reference points to shoot at" , "objectives of firing people" , "Butts" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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