Kitayama up by one shot at Pebble Beach Pro-Am
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Kurt Kitayama is starting to feel more comfortable each time he gets in contention on the PGA Tour, and the Californian can only hope that’s the case going into the weekend at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Kitayama opened with 10 straight pars before getting on track and finished birdie-par on two of the tougher holes at Pebble Beach for a 2under 70 that gave him a one-shot lead Friday.
Kitayama was at 9under 134 and led by one over Keith Mitchell, Brandon Wu, Joseph Bramlett and Hank Lebioda.
The way the forecast looks, getting comfortable on the Monterey Peninsula takes on a different meaning.
Katayama’s last shot at his first PGA Tour win was in the fall in the CJ Cup of South Carolina at Congaree. He was tied for the lead going into the weekend with Jon Rahm, and he was in the final group and one shot behind Rory McIlroy going to the final round.
He also finished runner-up to Rahm in Mexico last year, and to Xander Schauffele in the Scottish Open.
“I think the more you put yourself in that position the more you can get comfortable feeling uncomfortable,” Kitayama said. “It’s definitely good experiences to fall back on and use coming Sunday, hopefully.”
The contenders at Pebble don’t have that kind of star power. Of the leading 10 players, only four have won on the PGA Tour and Scott Stallings is the only multiple winner.
Far more daunting is the fickle weather at this tournament.
Starting times for Saturday were moved up one hour because of strong wind, and it doesn’t take much in these parts for it to be a problem.
Ancer just ahead of Young at Saudi
Abraham Ancer of Mexico had a 4-under 66 on Friday and led by one shot over PGA Tour rookie of the year Cameron Young in the Saudi International.
Ancer was at 11-under 129.
Marc Leishman (64) and Louis Oosthuizen (67) were among those three shots behind.
Three share lead in UAE tourney
David Law’s strong finish gave the Scot a share of the lead at 11under with Adrian Meronk and Rasmus Højgaard at the halfway point of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Law’s 64 included an eagle and three birdies over the last five holes at Al Hamra Golf Club.