Lehman Takes Lead At Pebble Beach

A day late, golfers finally finished the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Friday. Completing the rest of the tournament may be just as tough.

With periods of rain forecast for today and scattered showers expected tonight, the tournament risks going uncompleted for the second time in three years. It was scrapped after two rounds in 1996 because of rain and wet greens.

Tom Lehman shot a 4-under 32 for his nine holes Friday, giving him a first-round total of 8-under 64 and a one-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson. Six players, including Tom Watson and Paul Azinger, were tied for third with 67.

Tiger Woods was at 4-over 76, 12 shots off the lead. Defending champion Mark O’Meara, who is paired with Woods, also was at 76.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot a 70, six behind Lehman.

Golfers played nine holes under sunny skies Friday, completing the first round that began 4 hours late on Thursday because of rain and hail. Organizers hope to play the second round Saturday and the third round Sunday.

If the weather cooperates and 54 holes have been completed by Sunday, organizers then will decide whether to try to get in a fourth round on Monday. Even if only two rounds have been completed by Sunday, officials may try to get in a third round on Monday.

The Pro-Am portion of the tournament will end Sunday, officials said, even if the pros play Monday.

Langer, Woosnam share lead

Germany’s Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under-par 66 and tied Ian Woosnam of Wales for the second-round lead in the Heineken Classic at Perth, Australia.

Langer, who was paired with Woosnam, took a two-stroke lead to the 525-yard ninth - the group’s final hole of the day - but Woosnam holed a 60-yard chip for eagle to draw even at 9-under-par 135.

“I played quite nicely, but couldn’t hole my putts,” said Woosnam, who shot a 69.

Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, a member of Europe’s winning 1997 Ryder Cup team along with Langer and Woosnam, was three back at 138, along with Scotland’s Andrew Coltart and Australia’s Craig Parry. Bjorn shot 68, Parry 67 and Coltart 70.

Stockton leads Royal Caribbean

Dave Stockton shot a 7-under par 64 to take a three-stroke lead over David Graham and Lee Trevino after the first round of the Royal Caribbean Classic.

Bob Murphy and Bob Duval are four shots back after shooting rounds of 68. Defending champion Gibby Gilbert shot a 6-over 77 at Crandon Park Golf Course in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Stockton’s 64 tied Bruce Devlin’s 1990 tournament record for lowest first-round score. It also tied the 18-hole record, shared by five players.