By Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired (7/22/10)

Scott Brown posted a 6-under par 65 early in the day and Jonathan Kay followed later in the afternoon on fire with six birdies, one eagle and a bogey and is the leader after the first round at the 2010 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational at OSU Scarlett course.

Like Kaye, Brown’s only hiccup was on hole No. 2, a long 445 yard par 4. He birdied four of the next eight holes and added an eagle on the No. 12, par five.

This year, Brown has made the cut in 12 of 21 events, ranked 12th in total driving, which is needed on this long course. Kaye’s best finish this year on the Nationwide Tour was tied for 10th at the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA. On the PGA Tour side, he tied for 26th last week at the Reno-Tahoe Open..

Nick Flanagan, D.J. Brigman and William McGirt are in a three way tie for second, one shot back at 5-under par.

After a bogey on No. 2, Jason Gore, who has bounced from the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, was on his way to a very good round with five birdies, but a bogey on No.18 dropped him to 3-under par, and in an eleven-way tie, three shots back.

This closest competitor who is in the top 25 in earnings this year are Chris Nallen (16) and Peter Tomasolo (8) who sits tied for 13th.

The current money leader, Tommie Gainey, who won last week, did not start out with a bang. He carded three bogeys, No’s 1, 10 and 15, while birdying No.s 11 and 12 and sits tied for 75th and will work hard towards making the cut for the 7th week in a row.

Those who will have to scramble hard tomorrow to make the cut is Notah Begay III (6-over par), last year’s 54 hole leader Dave Schultz and Kevin Chappell (3rd on the money list) currently sitting at 3-over par.