Nicholas Thompson has the lead in the storm hit first round of South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour
Nicholas Thompson is the overnight leader in the first round of the South Georgia Classic, although none of the 156 field was able to complete their 18 holes for the day due to bad weather and poor visibility. The first round of the tournament was scheduled
to start at 7:45 am but the proceedings had to be put off for at least five hours in wake of intermittent rain.
The play resumed at 1:00 p.m. when weather took a turn for good but was again halted at 3:30 p.m. as the lightning bolts returned. The first round play was again resumed at 7:00 p.m., only to be concluded at 8:05 p.m. due to poor visibility.
Thompson, who only had a chance to play 11 holes in the round, scored five-under to grab the lead in the first round.
"It's tough with all the starting and stopping but you can't let that keep you from trying your hardest to put up a good number," said Thompson, who made five birdies and six pars. "I'm rolling the rock well right now and I just want to keep my momentum
going."
No less than four players are tied for the second spot. Former University of South Carolina Gamecock Kyle Thompson, Jonas Blixt of Florida State University, Gary Christian the former Auburn Tiger and Nationwide Tour’s stalwart Mathew Goggin, all scored four-under
to share the second spot.
The celebrity on tour, John Smoltz, who is the former eight times Major League Baseball pitcher, recorded a score of four-over in his first eight holes. Smoltz, who has a sponsor’s exemption to play in the tournament, fared badly on the first day with three
bogeys, a double bogey and just one birdie.
The first round will continue on the second day with the preferred lies rule being enforced by the organizers. The rule will be in effect till the culmination of the first round tomorrow. Generally the rule is brought into play during adverse weather conditions
and the golfer is allowed to improve the lie in case the shot has been affected by the dead turf.
Most parts of the greens and fairways were completely inundated by the torrential downpour in the afternoon, which is bound to affect the performance of the players on the second day.
Tags: