Gay, Langley lead by 1
Phil Mickelson hit every fairway for the first time in 21 years on his way to a 6-under 65 at Monterey Peninsula, an ideal start Thursday on perhaps the last ideal day at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California. Brian Gay and Scott Langley each had a 64 at Monterey for a one-shot lead to par on the three-course rotation Thursday. Dustin Johnson, not so fresh after his victory Sunday halfway around the world at the Saudi International, and Jordan Spieth each had a 5-under 66 at Monterey. There was no shortage of activity with Brandt Snedeker making birdie from the beach at Pebble Beach and Keith Mitchell saving par with a left-handed shot off a bridge while playing with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. Most unusual was Mickelson avoiding the rough. Johnson moves up late Felicity Johnson made a late move up the leaderboard Thursday
at the LPGA’s Vic Open to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round. The Englishwoman shot an 8-under 65 on the Creek course at the 13th Beach Golf Links at Barwon Heads, Australia, where men and women played in alternate groups in the unique tournament format also sanctioned by the men’s European Tour. Su Oh of Australia had a hole-in-one and held the lead for most of the day with Anne-Catherine Tanguay, both at 6 under. Kim Kaufman joined them in a tie for second with a 66 in the afternoon. Oh aced the 138-meter par-3 15th hole with a 6-iron. Tanguay played the par-72
Beach course and shot 66. Minjee Lee began her title defense with a 1-under 72, while seven-time major winner Karrie Webb shot 73, both on the Creek course. Morgan Pressel was 3 under after a 70 on the Creek layout, as was Georgia Hall. Nick Flanagan, an Australian who won the 2003 U.S. Amateur, shot a 10-under 62 on the Creek course to take a two-stroke lead in the men’s tournament. Among those tied for second were Flanagan’s roommate, James Nitties, and Kurt Kitayama, Hugo Leon and Callum Shinkwin. Andrew “Beef” Johnston shot 66, also on the Creek course, as did former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogivly on the Beach course.