TPGG Classic round 1

Okatie, S.C. – Matt Vick of Franklin, TN carded a first-round 67 in the Tarheel Tour's TPGG Classic on Wednesday and was the leader in the clubhouse when play was suspended at 7:55 PM due to darkness.

While the morning temperatures kept players on the cold side, Vick's impressive start had him on fire. Starting on Oldfield Country Club's back nine, Vick birdied his first three holes of the day before a bogey at the par-3 13th slowed his momentum somewhat. He would record yet another birdie at the par-4 15th, but would then back that up with a bogey at the par-3 16th. The front nine would prove to be flawless for Vick as three birdies and six pars left him with a closing-nine 32 and a round of 67 on the day.

Vick's trip to the top of the first-round leaderboard at the TPGG Classic took the path less traveled. While most of today's top golfers honed their skills on the college golf scene, Vick's forte was football. He starred at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga as the team's kicker from 1997-2000 and was named to the school's All-Century team after completing a career which saw him lead the nation in field goals in 2000. While Vick gained plenty of notoriety for his fame at UT-Chattanooga, it may have been his stint on Golf Channel's “Big Break” series last year that brought him the most recognition. Vick survived until the show's sixth episode, where he was eventually eliminated. Vick's last first-round lead on the Tarheel Tour came at the 2007 Warrior Classic where he opened with a 63 en route to a T25 finish.

Former Nationwide Tour player and 2005 Tarheel Tour leading money winner David Sanchez sits one shot back of Vick after a round of 68 on Wednesday. Sanchez played perfect golf through 13 holes with three birdies and 10 pars to his name before recording a bogey at the par-4 14th. However, the former N.C. State star would birdie 17 and 18 to finish his round and in turn make dinner taste that much better. Sanchez finished No. 190 on the 2007 Nationwide Tour money list and recorded one top-10 finish, a T8, at the Henrico County Open. Jacksonville, FL native Rob Bradley and former Nationwide Tour player Kyle Gallo also fired rounds of 68 Wednesday, the low rounds of the afternoon.

Jeff Curl, Jay McLuen and Fernando Mechereffe were tied for fifth when play was called with rounds of 69 each. While Curl and McLuen have each won on the Tarheel Tour, Mechereffe (who was a teammate of Sanchez's at N.C. State) has three runner-up finishes to his name and is still looking for that elusive title.

Players in the afternoon wave got the worse end of the draw with the stoppage of play as well as the conditions, according to Vick.

“I think we probably got the best of the conditions because when it warmed up, it really dried the course out and the wind was blowing for the afternoon guys. There was still a little moisture on the greens in the morning.”

The TPGG Classic is one of the richest events in all of developmental-tour golf with a purse of $250,000 and a winner's share of $40,000. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.