Blaum fires 65 to take lead at Hooters event at Royal Lakes; Bates, Bunch within striking distance

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Ryan Blaum of Coral Gables, Fla., carded a 7-under par, 65 in the opening round of The Georgia Sports Orthopedic Specialists Classic at Royal Lakes Golf and Country Club Thursday.

Blaum, an All-American at Duke University, holds a slim one-stroke lead over Kyle Ellis of Senatobia, Miss., who fired a 5-under par 66, highlighted by a hole-in-one on the 230 yard 14th hole.

Justin Bates of Flowery Branch and Justin Estes of Newnan both shot even-par 71s, while Josh Bunch of Murrayville opened with a 2-over 73. Gainesville's Stuart Moore also fired a 3-over 74 and is currently tied for 79th.


Michael Lavery of Mission Viejo, Calif., heads up a group of four golfers that are two strokes back after opening with 4-under par 67s. The group includes Matt Harmon of Grand Rapids, Mich., Sean McTernan of Ireland, and Justin Walters of (Raleigh, N.C.

The second round will begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. After the completion of Friday's action, the field will be cut to low 60 golfers and ties.

The purse for The Georgia Sports Orthopedic Specialists Classic is $200,000 with $33,566 going to the winner.

Georgia Sports Orthopedic Specialists Classic at Royal Lakes
Royal Lakes Golf & CC Pro Tees
Flowery Branch, GA
Apr 13 - Apr 19, 2009
Round 1 Scores
Par 71, 6980 yards

Fin. Players Hometown Scores Total Par
1 Ryan Blaum..................... Coral Gable, FL............... 65 65 -6
2 Kyle Ellis..................... Senatobia, MS................. 66 66 -5
T3 Michael Lavery................. Mission Viejo, CA............. 67 67 -4
T3 Matthew Harmon................. Grand Rapids, MI.............. 67 67 -4
T3 Justin Walters................. Raleigh, NC................... 67 67 -4
T3 Sean McTernan.................. Sligo, Ireland,............... 67 67 -4
T7 David Miller................... Daphne, AL.................... 68 68 -3
T7 Chris Devlin................... Ireland....................... 68 68 -3
T7 Jason Dillard.................. Cullman, AL................... 68 68 -3
T7 Ted Potter..................... Silver Springs, FL............ 68 68 -3
T7 Oscar Alvarez.................. Medellin, Columbia............ 68 68 -3
T7 Bronson Laâ