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Thompson snags ace, leads Pebble Beach Invitational

By Associated Press
Published on
Thompson snags ace, leads Pebble Beach Invitational

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Kyle Thompson, set to rejoin the PGA Tour after finishing 21st on the Nationwide Tour money list this year, had a hole-in-one and shot an 8-under 64 at Pebble Beach Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Thompson aced the 109-yard seventh, his 16th hole of the round. He also had seven birdies and a bogey.

"It was a surreal day," said Thompson, who didn't have a practice round because of late travel. "It was so foggy this morning, I didn't know if we were going to have a delay. But once we got to Pebble Beach it was blue skies, but the round continued as a surreal."

Jason Kokrak, a two-time winner this year on the Nationwide Tour who finished fourth on the developmental tour's money list, had a 7-under 65 at Del Monte. He had two eagles, seven birdies and four bogeys.

"I got into some tough situations, but I drove it really well," Kokrak said. "The greens were so soft, anywhere you put it was a good shot."

Matt Bettencourt, the 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open winner, was third after a 4-under 68 at Del Monte.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Jason Bohn was five strokes back in a group that included Harrison Frazar and D.A. Points, first-time PGA Tour winners this season.

PGA Tour players Tommy Gainey and Kevin Sutherland shot 70.

Defending champion John Mallinger, who split the 2011 season on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tours, had a 5-over 77 at Spyglass Hill in the only tournament that features head-to-head competition among players from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.

Oline Browne, the reigning U.S. Senior Open titlist who won the Pebble Beach Invitational a decade ago, had a 71 at Del Monte, the top score among 10 Champions Tour players.
Leta Lindley, Jill McGill and Kristy McPherson all had 73s at Del Monte and paced the eight LPGA entrants.

The top 40 pro scores and ties among the 83 pros and top-10 team scores and ties after 54 holes will advance to Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach.

The winner of the tournament's 40th edition will earn $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.