A quick start for Ferguson

When his plane landed in the wee hours on Friday morning, Brad Ferguson had a simple plan.

Having left his golf clubs behind during his most recent business trip — and having returned to Charlottesville at 2 a.m. — Ferguson merely wanted to tread water with the field before hitting the deriving range during the opening round at the Reines Jewelers City Championship at Meadowcreek Golf Course.

He did that and more — Ferguson leads the 90-player field heading into today’s second round, having shot a 4-under 66.

Matt Wade sits in second at 3-under 67 and Phil Mahone and Jerry Burton are tied for third at 2-under 68.

“I got off the plane last night and just showed up this morning just to play,” said Ferguson, a 35-year-old Lynchburg transplant. “I have a back problem and I have not played a lot of golf until the last three or four months, but I have been playing pretty well.

“I shot pretty good earlier in the Cannon Cup and since I have moved out to Spring Creek, Kevin Haney, the pro out there, has helped me to change some of my stuff so I can play without my back problem.”

Opening Friday’s round on the back nine, Ferguson dropped his first birdie on No. 13, a cozy par-3.

Four more birdies followed — and more could have joined them.

“I hit the ball really well,” he said. “I hit every fairway and every green. I missed four or five short birdies putts and then they started falling.

“Overall, I hit the ball really well considering I didn’t practice all week.”

Ferguson stumbled, however, on No. 1, the 10th hole he played. The long-driving wizard magically bogeyed the par five after a poor tee shot, dropping back to a stroke over par. Birdies followed on three of the final eight holes, securing the clubhouse lead.

He will open today’s second round from the same hole at 9:20 a.m., but similar problems are not expected.

“I will make sure I hit a 3-wood or a hybrid off the tee,” he joked, “and I will make sure I don’t get stuck on the hill this time.”

Jim Higginbotham, Bill Hamilton and Wes Eklund, stand three shots off the lead, while Chris Leibl, Russ Martin, Scott Garrison and Paul Kane are another shot back.