Brown ties CGC course-record for Milton Martin Classic lead

GAINESVILLE -- Brandon Brown tied the course record Thursday to open play at the NGA Pour Tour Milton Martin Classic at Chattahoochee Golf Course.<br /> <br /> The Shelbyville, Ky., native recorded seven birdies, two eagles and just one bogey to finish the Par 72, 7,020-yard course with a 10-under 62 and led the field by four shots after the first round.<br /> <br /> Danny Elkins of Roswell held the course-record outright after shooting a 62 last year in the second round of the Georgia Senior Open until Thursday. <br /> <br /> Six golfers finished at 6-under 66 and four others were at 4-under 68 after the opening round.<br /> <br /> Blake Palmer of Dawsonville fired the low round among local players with a solid 69, putting him in a tie for 12th after the first round.<br /> <br /> "I felt good out there all day. The course is in fantastic shape and was set up to score," said Palmer, a Dawson County grad who is a regular on the Open Golf Atlanta Tour. "I left a few out there so there is some room to have an even better day."<br /> <br /> Palmer, who missed the cut at the Milton Martin Classic the last two years, said despite trailing by seven strokes after the opening round, he and the others are still in contention.<br /> <br /> "Still have three days left and I doubt (Brown) will go that low again. We're not out of it yet," Palmer said.<br /> <br /> Palmer birdied Nos. 11, 12, 13, 15, and 17. He bogeyed Nos. 10 and 12.<br /> <br /> Former Habersham Central standout Ryan Chitwood finished with a 1-under 71 but felt he also could have gone much lower.<br /> <br /> "I hit the ball well but I just couldn't get many putts to fall," Chitwood said. "I had at least six lip out. I had a chance to really post a low score. Hopefully they'll fall (Friday)."<br /> <br /> Chitwood, whose best round on the newly-configured Chattahoochee course is a 63, was in a seven-way tie for 19th after the first round.<br /> <br /> "It was playing well to score so I think I still have a chance to climb. You're never out of things on this tour," said Chitwood, who is a regular on the Hopkins Tour.<br /> <br /> Chattahoochee club pro Roger Hogan fired a respectable 2-over 74 to finish tied for 34th.<br /> <br /> "I had a couple of rough holes but really not too bad for a hack club pro that doesn't play out here much," Hogan said. "I was pleased with how I played overall."<br /> <br /> Brown, who left the course soon after posting the low round, birdied Nos. 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, and 18 to go with eagles on Nos. 15 and 17. His lone bogey came at the the Par 3 14th.

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