FLORENCE, S.C. (July 22, 2014) -- PGA Professional Kelly Mitchum and amateur Cody Clepper share the overnight lead following the first round of the 63rd South Carolina Open being contested at Florence Country Club.

Mitchum, a PGA Assistant Professional at Pinehurst CC No. 1-5 rolled in six birdies but had one bogey for a round of 33-32=65 (-5). Clepper (Sumter, SC) sank five birdie putts enroute to a spotless round of 32-33=65 (-5).

Seven others sit two strokes back at 67 (-3): Nate Smith, Chuck Johns, Matthew Rushton (a), Tee Opperman (a), Davis Womble (a), Zach Calhoun, and Charles Chapman.

The course was soaked on Monday with two inches of rain hampering practice rounds. The wet conditions in the morning led to preferred lies being used and the putting greens being very receptive. Both factors helped to provide perfect scoring conditions.

The 63rd South Carolina Open is a 54-hole stroke play championship taking place over three days. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low third of the starting field. The South Carolina Open is an official 2014 CPGA Bob Boyd Player of the Year Points Challenge event.

For PGA Professionals only, the Par-3 Hole #7 is being used as the Global Golf Sales Par-3 Challenge qualifying hole. The Global Golf Sales Par-3 Challenge is a season long Par-3 scoring average contest that tracks Carolinas PGA Professionals performance on a designated Par-3 hole at each designated event.

The Carolinas PGA Section thanks host PGA Professional Steve Behr, the staff, and the members of Florence CC for their hospitality and support of one of our most prestigious tournaments.

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