We didn't have enough room in our section today to run much of the story about Ted Potter leading the Nationwide Tour's BMW Charity Pro-Am in the Greenville area, but it was too good to let pass. So I've posted it here. Some pretty entertaining stuff.
Potter, by the way, a talented lefty, won a Hooters Tour event in 2006 at River Hills Golf & Country Club in Little River.
By Ed McGranahan
Greenville News Staff Writer
SPARTANBURG – Ted Potter Jr. wasn’t waiting.
When his caddy collapsed at the 16th hole Thursday at The Carolina Country Club, Potter kept grinding.
“When you’re hitting it good, it seems like it’s pretty easy,” Potter said Thursday after posting an 8-under-par and a share of the lead after one round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by Synnex Corp.
“He was playing so good,” said Kelly Sellers, Potter’s caddy and buddy from Florida, “I forgot to drink.”
Martin Piller, winner of last week’s Nationwide Tour event in Athens, Ga., sprinted to the finish with three birdies and an eagle over the last six holes at Carolina to catch Potter.
“I told myself that a low score was there for the taking,” said Piller, No. 2 on the Nationwide money list. “I felt like I was hitting it well and putting pretty good coming into today, so I kept telling myself to play with a sense of urgency.”
Former college player of the year Kevin Chappell, whose instructor is Grand Strand resident Nick Bradley, and 2009 BMW runner-up Fabian Gomez, both shot 7-under at Thornblade Club. One stroke in arears behind were six others, including 2006 BMW winner Ken Duke at Bright’s Creek and Ryan Armour, who went out in 28 at Carolina with six birdies and an eagle then played the front nine in 2-over.
Ten of the day’s low 16 scores, as well as the highest in tournament history, were posted at Carolina.
Pro football great Jerry Rice shot 20-over 92 at Carolina. The previous high was a 90 by Shawn McCaughley at The Cliffs Valley in 2006.
After signing autographs and posing for pictures, Rice declined requests for interviews.
“Not right now, guys,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about golf right now. Had enough.”
Potter, a native of Silver Springs, Fla., with a nondescript pro resume, was more than happy to talk. He had won the Ocala Open in early March with a hole-in-one on the 71st hole. In 44 Nationwide appearances, he’s made three cuts.
“I was just happy to get in,” he said. “I've been playing in some Monday qualifiers just to keep busy.”
Potter was threatening the course record with nine birdies through 16 holes when Sellers went down in the heat – the first time.
“I was over a putt when I heard something,” Potter said. “I looked around and he was on the ground. He said he tripped, but the guys said he fainted.”
Sellers insisted they continue after sitting on Potter’s bag for a few minutes and sipping water. Potter said it wasn’t a distraction even though he knocked his tee shot on the next hole, a par 3, into a bunker near the front of the green and bogeyed.
“Not really,” he said. “I guess it could be.”
Sellers finally succumbed and accepted a ride to a first aid tent, where he was seen after the round sipping water with his feet propped on a cooler. Club general manager Tim Mervosh toted Potter’s bag in a cart the final two holes.
“I just kept it going, and after every birdie I made I felt like I could make another one,” Potter said. “You get hot some days; some days are average.
“I'm just trying to play it one day at a time, one hole at a time and keep it going.”
