Rex Hospital Open: Round 1 Notebook

Jordan Walor played his way into The Rex Hospital Open by shooting a 2-under 69 at the annual Pro-Junior Invitational on Sunday.

It should be noted, though, that Walor, 18, a recent Wake Forest-Rolesville graduate, was one of the juniors. So forgive him for probably having some opening-round jitters on Thursday.

Walor, the Cap 7 Conference’s Player of the Year, shot an opening-round 77 on Thursday, totaling seven bogeys and a birdie at the par-5 13th hole.

If there is some consolation for Walor, then it’s that he didn’t post the day’s highest score. No, that honor went to Josh Coley, who posted an 81.

Walor was also two strokes better than Scott Dunlap, who is currently 14th on the Nationwide Tour money list.

LOCAL INTEREST: The list of players with local ties is long, not to mention in contention. Canadian Ian Leggatt, who lists the Triangle as home, shot a 4-under 67, as did former UNC standout Dustin Bray. ... Former N.C. State players on the board included Fernando Mechereffe (70), Garth Mulroy (68), Gus Ulrich (69). ... UNC's Ryan Howison opened with a 73, while Rob Bradley shot 71. ... Wake Forest's Kyle Reifers posted a 73. 

NAMES, NOTES AND NUMBERS: Nationwide Tour leading money-winner David Mathis of Morrisville was 4-under-par through 15 holes but dropped three strokes in his last three holes to finish with a 1-under 70 … Kris Blanks, who last week won the Bank of America Open, hit 15 greens in regulation on his way to a 3-under 68. … Josh Broadaway compiled eight birdies in his 4-under-par 67 … Ed Willingham, the executive vice president of First Citizens Bank, one of the tournament sponsors, scored a hole-in-one at the 169-yard 11th hole during Wednesday’s pro-am to win a 2008 Maserati GranTourismo motor vehicle. ... Seventy-six players posted rounds of par or better.

FEATURED PAIRINGS: The Nationwide Tour offers the following tee times as featured groups in Friday's second round.

7:20 a.m. (No. 1 tee): Skip Kendall, Chris Anderson, Fran Quinn
8:00 a.m. (No. 10 tee): Brad Fritsch, Marc Leishman, Brad Lamb
8:20 a.m. (No. 1 tee): Keoke Cotner, Kelly Sellers, Brendan Steele
12:15 p.m. (No. 1 tee): Spencer Levin, Matt Every, Ben Bates
12:15 p.m. (No. 10 tee): Deane Pappas, Greg Owen, Josh Broadaway
12:45 p.m. (No. 1 tee): Mike Standly, Tyler Aldridge, Trevor Dodds
1:05 p.m. (No. 1 tee): Tyler Williamson, Ben Willman, Andres Gonzales