Heritage tees off

Heritage Week in Hilton Head Island looks like it's going to be splendid based on Thursday's opening round and the forecast for the remainder of the week. The sun was peaking through the canopies of the old oak trees that cover the roads in Sea Pines Resort en route to Harbour Town Golf Links, and the young women of the Carolinas in attendance have broken out the sun dresses for the season. Temperatures are expected to be in the 70s for the entire weekend, and the only threat of rain in the forecast is the possibility of scattered showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon.

Both Conway native Curt Sanders and Myrtle Beach resident Dustin Johnson had morning tee times Thursday, and they had mixed results. Sanders, a club pro now living in Wilmington, N.C., surprised some with a 1-under-par 70 that has him in position to play on the weekend in his first PGA Tour event. Johnson, on the other hand, shot his worst round out of 34 in his rookie year on the PGA Tour. He carded an 8-over-par 79 and is sure to miss the cut.

Both Johnson and Sanders had a decent following. Among a dozen or so people following Sanders were friends of his longtime buddy and former touring pro from Conway Justin Roof, as well as his parents, Carolyn and Bud of Conway, and Myrtle Beach furniture store owner Sandy Sanderson. Johnson had large following of at least a few dozen, including a few friends from Myrtle Beach and administrators/faculty members of Coastal Carolina University, where he played for four years.

The biggest nine-hole turnaround of the day was authored by former Clemson standout D.J. Trahan of Mount Pleasant, who started on the back nine and shot a 3-over-par 38 on the back nine before rebounding with a 6-under 30 on the front. He has a chance to be in the top 10 at day's end with his 3-under 68. Journeyman Jay Williamson had the day's best start with birdies on his first five holes, and made six total in a front-nine 31.