THE WOODLANDS, Texas (May 12, 2009) -- Mid-Am contestants Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV and Kenny Wilson of Murfreeboro, TN each posted a 2 under par 70 to tie the previous Mid-Am 18-hole tournament record and capture a one shot lead in the first round competition. John Pigg, of Austin, TX posted an even par 72 to capture a one shot lead in the Senior Division over four other players. 

Both Marsh and Wilson got off to a quick start by making a birdie on the 1st hole. Marsh gave up two shots with back-to-back bogeys on the 3rd and 4th holes and then followed up with another bogey on the 7th before getting into a rhythm with birdies on 7, 11, 13 and 18 to finish at 70. 

 “I’ve been pretty lucky in my life to go to some nice tournaments and play nice courses and this is as good as it gets for amateur tournaments”, said Marsh.

While it’s the fist time Marsh has played in the Carlton Woods Invitational, he’s no stranger to Houston.  

“I love it here in Houston. I have some great friends here. My first time here was in the 1993 US Amateur Championship. I love coming here to play in the Champions Cup and now I am going to look forward to coming back and playing here in this tournament. I’ve always liked Nicklaus’ courses because he gives you room off the tee but then he challenges you so much into and surrounding the greens,” added Marsh. 

Playing in the group ahead of Marsh, Wilson turned in a very solid round of golf. Wilson made two birdies and two bogeys on the front to turn at even par. On the back side, he slipped another stroke before finishing the last six holes three under par to finish at 70. Playing in the same group with Wilson, Shane Heise of The Woodlands, hit the shot of the day when he made a hole-in-one on the 195 yard 7th hole.

“The ball never left the pin. I hit 5-iron on every par three today. The 5-iron was the money club today. I played the par threes 3-under which is pretty good out here,” said Heise.

Heise got to 4-under for the day on the back nine but he stumbled playing the final three holes three over par. Heise’s 71 ties Dennis Bosworth one stroke back from the leaders.

In the Senior Division, John Pigg also got off to a hot early start, birdying the first hole and then making a string of ten straight pars before dropping a stroke on the 12th hole.  He recovered quickly with a birdie on the 13th and followed up with pars on 14, 15, and 16, but failed to get up and down on the 17th for his final bogey to post an even par round.

“This is a great golf facility and I’m excited to be here. I just wish I had been able to make a few more putts today. I had a lot of putts that could have gone in” said Pigg.

Mike Hopson, Chris Larsen, Hunter Nelson, and Bill Ploeger are tied one stroke back at 73.

All three rounds of this year’s tournament will be played on the Nicklaus Golf course. Second round play will begin on the 1st tee at 8:00 am on Wednesday.

The Club at Carlton Woods is hosting the 4th Annual Carlton Invitational Tournament in the private, gated community of Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas.