HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 13 (UPI) -- After an 8-under-par 63 Thursday, little-known Vaughn Taylor is the leader at the Verizon Heritage Golf Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Taylor, a native of Augusta, Ga., missed the cut by one shot at the Masters last weekend. He has a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk (64) after firing nine birdies in a 13-hole stretch.
"Last week was very nerve wracking ... playing in front of the home crowd," said Taylor, who moved to Augusta as an infant and still lives there. "I came in this week and it just feels easy. This week I feel very relaxed."
Duffy Waldorf, Billy Mayfair and Tom Pernice Jr. all shot 6-under 65 and are tied for third place after the first 18 holes. Chris Riley, Brian Gay, Geoff Ogilvy and Aaron Baddeley all shot 4-under 67 and are tied for sixth.
22 players are within five shots of the lead.
