The PDGA National Tour ramped back up in Leicester, Massachusetts with the beginning of the 2010 Vibram Open at Maple Hill. 

Conditions were superb today with low humidity and temperatures in the upper 70s, though players found the par-60 course quite a challenge.  Denver, North Carolina’s Michael Johansen again finds himself atop a National Tour leader board, much like he did at the Sunshine State Shootout after the first round earlier in the year.  Johansen’s 7-under par score lead an open field where only 27 players were able to navigate rugged 8200 feet trek in the red during this first round. 

Also, similar to the Florida NT in March is the enormous amount of talent that will be chasing one of the real sleepers on the disc golf scene.  Johansen is being closely tracked by Alabama’s Matt Orum, who is one throw off the pace, as well as a quartet of accomplished pros tied for third.  Steve Brinster, Nikko Locastro, Cale Leiviska, and Devan Owens will all be enjoying the mid-afternoon tee times, when temperatures are again expected to peak in the high 70’s with light winds and low humidity. 

With the Maple Hill course in pristine shape after the devastating ice storm last November, and the weather ideal for any time of the year, disc golfers will have only their talent to fall back on, if they hope to move up the standings during this year’s Vibram Open second round. 

The 2010 PDGA Men’s Open World Champion, Eric McCabe, is lurking only four throws out from Johansen after his torrid putting in the beginning of round one evened out later in the day.

The newly crowned PDGA Women’s Open World Champion and defending Vibram Open Champion, Sarah Stanhope, continues to ride her wave of talent, as she topped familiar rival Des  Reading by the slimmest one throw margin to gain the early lead here at the Vibram Open.  Stanhope (4-over par) and Reading (5-over par) will be joined by Valarie Jenkins, who grinded out a respectable 968-rated 7-over par to complete the Women’s Open lead card. 

In the only other division at this year’s Vibram Open, the Men’s Grandmasters, Tom Edwards, Keith Johnson, Jim Myers, and Eric Vandenberg still have much to settle, as these four players are knotted at the top of the card with 5-over 65’s. 

Saturday’s action will find the top women’s group on the course at approximately 10:00 am, while the men will hit the Maple Hill course at around 3:30 pm.  Both groups will be featured during our live internet broadcast on http://www.pdga.com/virbram-open.