Indian Land, SC – August 19 – If there is one thing Kevin Kisner has never lacked, it is confidence. Not the annoying kind of confidence that misleads countless talented players, but the subtle confidence that leads to great play when an athlete knows he is capable of it. Kisner was finally able to find that good play on Wednesday at the South Charlotte Classic after a year spent looking for it. A bogey at his first hole was quickly erased with a stunning 10-birdie performance, and the resulting 9-under 63 at host Carolina Lakes has Kisner in command with 36 holes to play.

Kisner, a two-time winner on tour, hasn't had the worst year of all time, just a season that has yet to live up to his standards. In 10 events, the former University of Georgia golfer has just over $24,000 in earnings, with a T4 at the Walnut Creek Championship and a T2 at the un-official Greater Richmond Open being his best finishes. For Kisner, a year spent between the eGolf Tour and the Nationwide Tour has produced mixed results.

"It's been a tough year because I've played on the Nationwide Tour six times, but then I come out here and don't play well. I play well out there, just not out here," said Kisner, who finished T15 and T20 in his first two Nationwide Tour starts this year at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic and the South Georgia Classic, respectively. "It has mostly been a lack of preparation, but it was better today and now it's time to turn it around."

Beginning on the par-4 10th at Carolina Lakes, Kisner opened with a bogey on a day when bogeys were avoided like the plague, although it wouldn't take him long to turn things around.

Birdies on 12, 13 and 15 began to wet the whistle for Kisner, but it wasn't until he added birdies at 17 and 18 that realization of a low round began to surface.

Making the turn at 4-under 32, the Aiken, SC native didn't miss a beat on the front nine (his back) with an additional five birdies – capped off by a closing birdie at the par-4 ninth – to post his lowest round on tour since a first-round 63 at last year's Cabarrus Classic.

As with most players, Kisner pointed to a better flat stick when asked why this round emerged in a season of constant struggle.

"I finally made some putts. I've been struggling the whole year with that, so I put an old putter back in the bag," said Kisner, whose round of 63 established a new course record at Carolina Lakes. "It just seemed like it needed to get out of the closet."

Countless players have tinkered with putters in their careers, but more times than not, old faithful finds her way back in the bag and usually reminds them of clutch putts made.

Kyle Bradley"I've been using it for the last five years, but this year, I switched about four times until I brought it out last week. I think it's going to stick for some time," Kisner said.

Kyle Bradley of North Augusta, SC and Reid Edstrom of Auburn, AL sit tied for second, two shots behind Kisner after matching rounds of 7-under 65 – both of which came at Carolina Lakes.

For Bradley, the round is a welcome surprise in a year featuring only one top-20 finish – a T18 effort at the Walnut Creek Championship in May. The new father cited a better perspective on golf after witnessing the birth of his son Jackson just four weeks ago.

"We had the baby about four weeks ago, but it was really like six weeks because my wife was on bed rest for the two weeks before that," said Bradley, a former College of Charleston golfer. "It's nice to be back in the swing of things and to be a little more comfortable out there."

As with most new parents, Bradley sees some of the trivial pressure in golf as less important at this stage of fatherhood.

"It does add a little perspective because the baby doesn't care if I play well or miss the cut. It's not the end of the world either way."

Reid EdstromEdstrom, himself a father of two, began his opening round with an uninspiring stretch of golf that left him at even par through seven holes – hardly making a dent in a leaderboard already blistered with red ink. It wasn't until a birdie at the par-4 eighth that his round really took off.

Making the turn at 1-under 35, the former Auburn University standout carded birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 to come home with a staggering 6-under 30 on the closing nine.

His round of 65 continued a nice stretch of golf for Edstrom as he has not recorded a round over par on tour since a final-round 76 at the Bushnell Championship in April.

Cedarwood Country Club, a venerable old Ellis Maples layout that is serving as the co-host of this week's event, played nearly two shots harder than Carolina Lakes (relative to par) in the first round.

At day's end on Wednesday, Wes Homan fired the lowest round at Cedarwood with a 5-under 66 that included birdies on three of his final four holes. Only four players who began their tournament at Cedarwood found themselves in the top 25 through 18 holes: Homan, Tommy Parker (67), John Ellis (67) and Derek Watson (67).

For Kisner, Thursday's second round is another opportunity to put himself one step closer to collecting his first tour title since the 2008 Bermuda Run Open.

A true Southerner with an affable nature, Kisner's self confidence is contagious and at times fun to be around. Tour officials jokingly nicknamed him "Nature's Candy" in an attempt to layer some self-deprecating humor on him, and thankfully he willingly accepted. When asked of his chances to continue his solid play at Cedarwood on Thursday, Kisner gave the wry smile of a player knowing his odds are looking good.

"As good as I hit it today, and putted, I can play anywhere. Hopefully I keep that going."

Second-round play in the South Charlotte Classic will begin at 8:00 AM on Thursday morning at both Carolina Lakes and Cedarwood. After the completion of 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties, with Friday's final round being contested at Carolina Lakes. The tournament is open to the public and free of charge.