Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela posted a bogey-free 5-under-par 65 to tie Scott Langley for the lead halfway through the Greenbrier Classic in the rain on the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
The 30-year-old Vegas, whose only PGA Tour victory came as a rookie in the 2011 Bob Hope Classic in La Quinta, finished on the front nine with a three-foot birdie putt on the seventh hole and a five-footer for his final birdie at No. 9.
“It was a great day,” said Vegas, who played at the University of Texas. “I think the afternoon wave definitely had the best of it. The conditions were good and I was able to take advantage of that. I holed some good putts and had some that nearly went in.
“Overall, it was a really good first round. There are a bunch of guys close, so I just have to stick to what I’m doing. I’m feeling great and playing great, and have to just keep it going.”
Langley, who held the first-round lead with a 62, grabbed his share of the top spot with birdies on the sixth and seventh holes while also finishing on the front nine with a 69.
Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA birdied the fifth and seventh holes coming in to shoot 67 and was one stroke back in a tie for third with Bryce Molder (64), Chad Collins (67), David Hearn (64) of Canada, Greg Owen (67) of England, Danny Lee (69) of New Zealand and Jonathan Byrd (69).
James Hahn of Alameda and Cal carded a 67 and was two shots behind in a tie for 10th with Patrick Rodgers (65) of Stanford, Scott Piercy (66), Robert Garrigus (67), S.J. Park (65) of South Korea and Sean O’Hair (67).
Tiger Woods followed his 66 with a 69 and was four strokes back in a tie for 26th that included Bubba Watson, who had a 68, and amateur Maverick McNealy, the Stanford junior, who also came in at 68.
