Ever since Jonathan Bartlett's week at the Greenbrier Classic started, he's become something of a celebrity. The USA Today has picked up his story. Media outlets from Florida to Virginia have told his comeback tale.
Ever since Jonathan Bartlett's week at the Greenbrier Classic started, he's become something of a celebrity. The USA Today has picked up his story. Media outlets from Florida to Virginia have told his comeback tale.
Newfound stardom hasn't worried Bartlett.
"Oh, it's fine," he said. "And it makes it more fun. It makes my parents wake up at 7 a.m. to go get the paper."
His week at the Classic has been a bit of a homecoming for the former mini-tour player and defending West Virginia Amateur champion, who shot an opening-round 70 Thursday.
He was a roommate of Carl Pettersson in junior college and played on the Golden Bear Tour and the Gateway Tour with Steve Marino. He played against Brandt Snedeker in college, and with Brandt's brother, Haymes.
Despite the media attention, the only thing that was nerve-wrecking to Bartlett was his first shot on No. 10 Thursday afternoon. He shot a 274-yard drive on his opening hole, right into a fairway bunker. Although he was able to get to the green with a 110-yard pitch from the sand, he three-putted for bogey.
A tough start, sure, but he was able to settle down and par the next two holes en route to a 1-over-par 37 on the back nine. Bartlett was grouped with Roger Tambellini and Tour rookie Matt Every, who finished as the co-leader with Erik Compton after the opening round..
Bartlett said that many pros have been predicting four round totals of 25 to 30 under par -scores that may go even lower if the prospect of rain softens up an already soft course. Even with the predictions in the back of his mind, Bartlett said he doesn't care if he shoots an 80 or a 68 this weekend.
"I'm comfortable with the surroundings," he said. "I couldn't have planned [this] any better."
