Golf
Lead shared at Greenbrier
2010-07-30 09:13
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West Virginia - Two-time heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton fired a seven-under 63 to seize a share of the lead after the opening round of the PGA Tour's Greenbrier Classic.
The 30-year-old Compton, who is playing on a sponsors exemption, is level with fellow American Matt Every.
Compton rolled in birdies on nine of his last 15 holes for a career-best score on the PGA Tour.
Finishing his round after an 80-minute weather delay, Every matched his career low to tie Compton.
He had an opportunity on the final hole to take the lead outright but missed a 10-foot birdie putt on his last hole.
Jeff Overton, George McNeill and Pat Perez shared third place at six-under 64, while Brendon de Jonge, Charles Howell, Aron Price, Matt Bettencourt and John Rollins all shot 65.
Compton finished with nine birdies. There were 24 players at four under or better on Thursday.
"You know, some guys miss six, seven cuts in a row and then win," Compton said.
"I know I'm a good player, and I have a lot of the adversity in front of me with the game and health. But I always feel like if I stick in there and keep trying, something eventually good is going to happen."
At age 9, Compton was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. The disease inflames the heart and leaves it unable to pump blood like it should. His first transplant came three years later and he underwent another just two years ago.
"My health is great. I keep a good eye on it," Compton said. "I'm almost like a doctor now myself because I've been through so much and being able to manage medications and take it on the road."
First-round scores from the $6m PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic (USA unless noted, par-70):
63 - Erik Compton, Matt Every
64 - George McNeill, Jeff Overton, Pat Perez
65 - Matt Bettencourt, Charles Howell, Aron Price (AUS), John Rollins, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM)
66 - Stuart Appleby (AUS), Mathew Goggin (AUS), Richard S. Johnson (SWE)
67 - Aaron Baddeley (AUS), Jeev Milkha Singh (IND)
68 - Stephen Ames (CAN), Arjun Atwal (IND), Greg Chalmers (AUS), Sergio Garcia (ESP), Marc Leishman (AUS), Garth Mulroy (RSA), Greg Owen (GBR), John Senden (AUS)
69 - Michael Bradley, Martin Laird (GBR), Cameron Percy (AUS), Charlie Wi (KOR)
70 - Daniel Chopra (SWE), Graham Delaet (CAN), Matt Jones (AUS)
71 - Trevor Immelman (RSA), Jarrod Lyle (AUS), Andrew McLardy (RSA), Rod Pampling (AUS), Brenden Pappas (RSA), Carl Pettersson (SWE)
72 - Ryuji Imada (JPN), David Lutterus (AUS)
73 - Henrik Bjornstad (NOR), David Morland (CAN)
74 - Brian Davis (GBR), Mathias Gronberg (SWE)
76 - Mark Hensby (AUS), James Nitties (AUS)
77 - Alex Cejka (GER)