Lebioda takes one-shot lead on early birdie run
Changes in weather and fortunes can happen without notice in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which seems to suit Hank Lebioda just fine these days.
Playing his sixth different course in his last six rounds on the PGA Tour, Lebioda ran off six birdies in an eighthole stretch for an eightunder 63 on the Shore course at Monterey Peninsula and a one-shot lead after the opening round Thursday.
His big advantage was finishing before a pleasant day of mostly sunny, relatively calm conditions gave way to wind strong enough to bend flagsticks and force players to remove caps before they putted so they wouldn’t blow off.
Lebioda was among six players from the leading 12 scores who have yet to win on the PGA Tour. He doesn’t have a good recipe for success in tournaments with multiple courses except to be prepared for anything.
“This would be eight courses in three weeks for us,” said Lebioda, who missed the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and the American Express. “Three courses in Palm Springs, two last week in San Diego and three this week. So the best thing you can do is take care of yourself, relax and make sure you’re good to go.”
Three of the top four scores to par were at Monterey Peninsula. Kurt Kitayama made four straight birdies around the turn and had a bogey-free 64, while Harry Hall made five straight birdies and was tied for the lead until a late bogey on No. 8. He also had 64.
Chad Ramey had a seven-under 65 at Pebble Beach. He was tied for the lead until going into the front bunker on the parthree 17th and taking bogey.
The best score at Spyglass Hill belonged to Keith Mitchell at five-under 67. It was the only course where the average score was over par.
Ancer atop Saudi International
Abraham Ancer had a seven-under 63 for a oneshot lead over Sebastian Munoz after the first round of the Saudi International on the Asian Tour in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
Dustin Johnson, a twotime winner of the tournament when it was part of the European Tour schedule, withdrew before the start with an injury the Asian Tour described as “tweaking his back.“