Robinson Headlines Quartet Leading Southern Open  

Concord, NC- 2008 Tarheel Tour money leader David Robinson fired a 6-under-par 66 in Friday’s second round of the Southern Open to share the 36-hole lead with former Tarheel Tour winner Jeff Curl, Ocean View, DE resident Neil Maurer, and first round leader Chris Epperson.

Robinson, who is the reigning Rivertowne and Northstone Open Champion, birdied his first three holes and eventually reached 11-under-par for the tournament before closing with a bogey at the difficult par-four 9th to close out his round. The Sandersville, GA native was joined at 10-under by Ellington, CT resident Jeff Curl, who backed up a first round 69 with a bogey-free 7-under-par 65. The former UNC-Charlotte golfer took advantage of his length by birdieing three of the four par fives in route to the round of the day. This is Curl’s first Tarheel Tour event since winning the Portland Open by four shots two weeks ago.

Late in the afternoon, Ocean View, DE resident Neil Maurer went out in 5-under-par 31 to reach 9-under par through 27 holes. Maurer, like Robinson, would reach 11-under-par for the tournament before bogeying the par-four 17th to fall back into a share of the lead at 10-under. First round leader Chris Epperson fired a very efficient 3-under-par 69 to round out the group at 10-under. Epperson continued the leader’s theme by reaching 11-under-par before falling back to 10-under with an inward half of 1-over-par 37.

A pair of runner-up finishers in prestigious USGA events made significant moves to share fifth place at 9-under-par. 2004 United States Amateur runner-up Luke List backed up a 4-under-par 68 with a bogey-free 5-under-par 67. List birdied his final hole after seven consecutive pars to finish his round and break out of a log jam at 8-under. Joining List just one shot off the lead is 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links runner-up Martin Ureta. The former University of North Carolina standout fired a 6-under-par 66 to move to 9-under for the tournament. Both of these youngsters are looking for their first career win on the Tarheel Tour.

Two-time Tarheel Tour Winner in 2008 Andy Bare, The Manor Classic runner-up Scott Weatherly, and two-time former Tarheel Tour winner Dane Burkhart lead a large group just two strokes back at 8-under. Nationwide Tour player Camilo Benedetti is also in the hunt at 8-under-par in his first event of the season on the Tarheel Tour.

Several days in a row of afternoon thunderstorms finally gave way to partly cloudy skies on Friday. Conditions were still soft and great scoring continuing with the field averaging just 71.77 during Friday’s second round. Sixty-nine players survived the 36-hole cut which fell at 3-under-par 141.

The final round of the Tarheel Tour’s Southern Open will begin on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. on the first and tenth tees, with the leaders teeing off #1 shortly after 9:00 a.m. Come out and watch the best players in developmental tour golf battle for the $22,000 first place price at Cabarrus Country Club. In accordance with Tarheel Tour policy, admission is open to the public and free of charge.