Kitayama grabs 2nd round lead at Pebble Beach

S AN FRANCIS co : Kurt Kitayama steered a steady course in demanding conditions Friday to take a one-shot lead in the Pebble Beach Pro-am, where he’s chasing his first US PGA Tour title.

The Californian, who has two European Tour titles on his resume, parred his first nine holes and had three birdies and a bogey coming in to post a two-under par 70 for a nine-under total of 134.

He was one stroke clear of first-round leader Hank Lebioda, Kevin Mitchell, Brando Wu and Joseph Bramlet.

“Today was really tough,” said Kitayama, who played the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three courses in use over the first three rounds along with par-72 Spyglass Hill and the par-71 Monterey Peninsula course.

“Overall, I’m really happy with where I’m at and how I played today.”

Of the group sharing second, three played at Monterey Peninsula, where Wu carded a 66, Mitchell posted a 68 and Bramlet carded a 67.

Lebioda, who opened with a 63 at Monterey Peninsula on Thursday, carded an even par 72 at Pebble Beach. Lebioda teed off on 10 and had the solo lead at 10-under ater birdies at the 10th and second, but he dropped back with a double-bogey at the par-three fith.

Ater gusting winds hit the later starters on Thursday, morning rain and more blustery winds pushed up scores on Friday morning.

More rain and wind was forecast for the weekend, and tee times were moved up to try to miss the worst of it.

England’sjustinroseandireland’sseamuspower both said the weather reminded them of home.

“It was a bit of a dreary kind of day, kind of English I suppose,” said Rose, whose three-under par round at Spyglass Hill included a hole in one at the par-three 15th.

“A special day always when you manage to have a hole-in-one,” he said. “I believe it’s my 12th.

“Kind of felt like I could have kicked on from that point a litle more,” added Rose, who had two late bogeys and finished the day tied for 11th, three shots off the lead.

Power headlined a group sharing sixth on sevenunder par ater firing an impressive seven-under par 64 at Monterey Peninsula that included six birdies and an eagle at the par-five 16th.

Power said he played in the rain through the first five or six holes, with blustery winds around the turn before “the last few holes were very pleasant.