Jones leads at Pebble Beach

2008-02-10

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PEBBLE BEACH, California (Ticker) -- Kent Jones has the leadheading into Friday''s second round of the $6 millionPebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Jones started quickly Thursday on the back nine, posting four of his six birdies to roll to his bogey-free 6-under-par 66.

The New Mexico native holds a one-shot lead over John Mallinger,Roland Thatcher and Brad Adamonis, all of whom carded sixbirdies and one bogey.

J.B. Holmes, who defeated Phil Mickelson on the first hole of aplayoff to win the FBR Open on Sunday, is one of 10 players tiedfor third at 4-under.

Olin Brown was in the cluster at 68, helped by an eagle on thepar-4 13th hole when he holed a 4-iron from the fairway.

Also at 4-under was Michael Allen, who had an eagle at the par-518th hole - his ninth of the day - to highlight his round.

The 49-year-old Allen''s best win came at the Scottish Open - in1989.

Daniel Chopra, the Mercedes-Benz Championship winner, headlinesa group of 11 players at 3-under.

Mickelson, who is the defending champion and three-timetournament winner, finished at 1-under.

Davis Love III, who has not played any golf since the end ofSeptember due to a severe left-ankle injury, made his seasondebut and signed for a 2-under 70.

A two-time winner of the event, Love underwent surgery duringthe first week of October and has undergone an extensive rehabprogram. He was injured when he stepped in a hole during acasual round and severely injured his ankle.

Greg Norman, making his first PGA Tour start since the 2006International, finished at 4-over 76.

Playing this event for just the sixth time in his career, andfirst since 1992, Norman made the turn at even-par but stumbledon the back nine with three bogeys and a double-bogey.

First prize is $1.08 million.