Robinson has peachy day at Spring Creek

By Bart Isley

Published: June 18, 2008

GORDONSVILLE —Georgia native David Robinson didn’t just have nice things to say about Spring Creek’s setup for the Tarheel Tour stop that teed off Wednesday — he paid the course one of the highest compliments it could receive.

“I think they could hold a PGA tour event out here tomorrow if they wanted to,” Robinson said.

Of course, Robinson had to be in a good mood. He’d just laid down the gauntlet for his competitors by putting together an opening round 65 as part of the first group in the clubhouse.

After the first round ended, Robinson was tied atop the leaderboard with Andy Bare, who also posted a 65. Both were just a shot off the course record of 64 set during last year’s inaugural Spring Creek Classic. Both Bare and Robinson have already won a pair of events on the tour this season, with Bare winning last week’s Warrior Classic in China Grove, N.C.

Robinson, who is currently the tour’s top money winner, wasn’t the only golfer singing Spring Creek’s praises after the Tour’s opening round.

“We play a lot of good courses on the Tarheel Tour but this is by far the best one I’ve ever seen,” Dane Burkhart said. “The course is in just absolutely phenomenal shape.”

Burkhart posted a 1 under 71, which left him tied with several other golfers at 23rd and still well within striking distance.

What stood out most to both golfers was the speed on Spring Creek’s greens. That played into Robinson’s hands, because he’s one of the best putters in the field.

“I rolled my putter really well,” Robinson said. “My speed on the greens was really good and I was able to keep it around the hole.”

Robinson, who played his college golf at Division II Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Ga., has twice made it to the second stage of the PGA Tour’s Q School, just a step away from the final stage when golfers play for the right to a tour card.

“I just haven’t broken through yet,” Robinson said.

Burkhart, who was also part of the morning flight, noticed that the green speed seemed to pick up on the back nine as the sun dried out the greens. That left the afternoon wave of golfers with a little tougher task than their morning counterparts.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve putted on greens this quick,” Burkhart said. “Those guys in the afternoon are going to have some fun because I felt like the greens got two to three feet faster on the backside then they were this morning.”

Scott Weatherly managed the low round of the afternoon two shots back of Burkhart and Robinson with a 66,2 good for sole possession of sixth place.

Burkhart won three team Division II national championships at South Carolina-Aiken and won the Division II individual title as a junior. His former college teammate Scott Brown is also playing in the Classic, and is currently tied for third with Hank Kim and Jesse Smith after posting a 66 on the first day. Kim is a former ACC individual champion at N.C. State.

The second round of the Spring Creek Classic will tee off today 8 a.m., and the event will conclude with a final round Friday.