Brad Wilder, Rob Simmons lead after first round at Azalea Invitational

CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 29, 2012) -- Brad Wilder of Fort Wright, Kent. and Rob Simmons of Beaufort, S. Car., sit atop the leaderbaord after the first round at the 64th Azalea Invitational at the Country Club of Charleston.

The leaders shot 64 and sit one shot ahead of Garland green of Tazewell, Virg. and Jim Liu of Smithtown, NY. Victor Wiggins of Gastonia, N. Car. is alone in fifth place after firing a 65.

The 23rd-ranked player in the U.S., three-time U.S. Mid-Amateur winner and the 2005 Azalea champion, Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh, Penn., is in a tie for 28th place after shooting 72, along with fellow top players Sean Kelly of Bradenton, Fla. and Kevin Marsh of Henderson, Nev.

Manav Shah, the Calfornia-based UCLA linkster, struggled to a first- round 75 and sits in a 71st-place tie.

Rhys Enoch, the Wales native and No. 27 player in the world, was 12 shots back of the leaders after a tough first-round 76.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who recently played alongside Tiger Woods at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, shot 77 in the first round.

Second-round play begins Friday at 7:50 a.m. For complete Round 2 pairings, click here.