...Carolina Golf News Line

Kilgo Leads Tarheel Tour Event at Verdict Ridge

DENVER, N.C. -   By Craig Distl - Matt Kilgo of Charlotte posted eight birdies and tallied 15 points Tuesday to take the first-round lead in the Tarheel Tour's Verdict Ridge Open at Verdict Ridge Country Club. The tournament features the Stableford Scoring System in which players receive five points for eagle, two points for birdie, none for par, minus one for bogey and minus three for double bogey or higher.
Kilgo, who recently made it through the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying, shot a 65 that included birdies on four of his last five holes. Len Calvert of Easley, S.C., and Derek Watson of Manning, S.C., are tied for second with 12 points each, while Huntersville's Matt Cannon and Greensboro's Karl Mitchell share fourth at 11 points each. Cannon won the tour's Stableford event last year with 32 points.
Wednesday's second round begins at 9 a.m. The 74-man field will be cut to the top 26 and ties for Thursday's final round, which also begins at 9 a.m.
Tarheel Professional Tour
First Round Leaders
Verdict Ridge Country Club
6,992 yards, Par 72
*Stableford Scoring System
Matt Kilgo, Charlotte +15 pts.
Len Calvert, Easley, SC +12 pts.
Derek Watson, Manning, SC +12 pts.
Karl Mitchell, Greensboro +11 pts.
Matt Cannon, Huntersville +11 pts.
Jeff Curl, Jupiter, Fla. +10 pts.
Simon McGreal, Greensboro +10 pts.
Chris Wisler, Dover, Del. +10 pts.
Ian Steele, Auburn, Ala. +9 pts.
Billy Jay Sayre, Waynesboro, Va. +9 pts.
Kevin O'Connell, Greenboro +8 pts.
Josh Wilson, Monroe +7 pts.
Jason Martin, Durham +7 pts.
Gary Christian, Birmingham, Ala. +7 pts.
Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, SC +7 pts.
David Siegel, Charlotte +6 pts.
Rob Bradley, Raleigh +6 pts.
Stephen Woodard, Charlotte +6 pts.
Ben Case, Charlotte +6 pts.
Brett Boner, Charlotte +6 pts.