Matteson leads in Florida

Local boy takes narrow advantage at Disney World

Last updated: 7th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Matteson leads in Florida

Matteson: Two eagles

First round leaderboard:
(US unless stated)
T Matteson -9
K Streelman -8
S Verplank -8
J Walker -8

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A nine-under-par 63 was enough to give Troy Matteson the outright lead after the opening round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Florida.

Matteson, already a winner on the PGA Tour two years ago in the Frys.com Open, had two eagles to go with his six birdies, while a solitary bogey at the 11th spoiled an otherwise flawless card.

The Florida native, who finished a season's-best second in the PODS Championship earlier this year, holds a narrow lead over fellow Americans Kevin Streelman, Jimmy Walker and veteran Scott Verplank.

Players made the most of the easy conditions at the Walt Disney World complex, played over the Magnolia and the Palm courses, with 94 of the 128 starters under par for the day.

"It's been a long time since I made two eagles in the same round," Matteson said. "I think it was two years ago when I played on the Palm."

Former USPGA champion Rich Beem, who currently sits outside the top 125 who will retain their cards for 2009, requires a big week in the final event of the season to earn full playing privileges.

He heads a group of five players on seven under par, two shots off the pace, while Australia's Robert Allenby is the leading international player among a whole host on six under.

Transplant

But the story of the day arguably belonged to Erik Compton, a 28-year-old who returned to the tour after a three year hiatus just seven months after undergoing a second heart transplant.

Compton received a sponsor's invitation to the event and fired a two-under-par 70 on his first appearance since Doral in 2005, covering the back nine in three-under 33.

"I'm kind of disappointed with the way I scored today but I'm still in it," he said. "I think I have just as good of a chance to play well as everybody else.

"I made a lot of birdies and bogeys. The front nine I just didn't really have it and I knew I needed to get something going on the back because the scores are pretty low."

Compton was diagnosed with a heart condition as a child and had his first transplant at the age of 12, but soon excelled at golf and competed in the 2001 Walker Cup as an amateur.

"It's unbelievable and playing a PGA Tour event this soon after the transplant, I'm kind of riding a wave right now," he said. "But that's how life is. You get opportunities and you try to make the most of them."