Points, Bettencourt assume one-stroke Pebble Beach Invitational halfway lead on wind, rainy day

November 21, 2009

D.A. Points shot a 2-under 70 at Del Monte and Matt Bettencourt carded a 71 at Spyglass Hill to share the lead by one shot Friday as scores soared in strong winds and rain in the second round of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Points, who finished 66th on the PGA Tour money list this season, had a scrambling round with two eagles, three birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey en route to his 6-under 138 total.

“I’ve had the most fortunate tee time of the tournament at 8:30 and we got through before it got too bad,” said Points. “I had some tough shot, but I played well overall. I had a recent top-10 finish and I was in the top-70 on the money list. I’m playing the best golf of my career and I just hope to keep it going.”

Bettencourt, who won the 2008 Nationwide Tour Championship and just completed his PGA Tour rookie season, had four birdies and three bogeys.

“It was very windy and nasty,” said Bettencourt. “It was the toughest I’ve ever seen Spyglass. It was brutal.”

Winds gusted to 40 mph and steady afternoon rain fell at all three tournament courses. Only six players in the field of 75 pros from the four major pro tour broke par. Seventeen pros shot 80 or higher and only eight players improved their scores from the first round.

Champions Tour veteran Jim Thorpe, who had 72 at Spyglass Hill, and PGA Tour newcomer Craig Bowden, who shot 68 at Del Monte, are tied at 139.

Two-time tournament winner Mark Brooks, who had a 70 at Del Monte, Bryce Molder, who shot 71 at Spyglass, are tied at 140.

Olin Browne, who shared the first-round lead with John Cook, shot a 76 at Spyglass Hill and is tied with six players at 142.

Cook, winner of the Charles Schwab Cup earlier this month, carded a 77, also at Spyglass Hill. Cook is among three players at 143.

Two-time defending titlist Tommy Armour III shot an 80 at Spyglass Hill en route to his 151 total.

Mina Harigae, who will make her debut on the LPGA Tour next season, shot a 74 at Del Monte and leads the four women pro entrants a par 144.

Derek Lamely, who’ll make his PGA Tour debut next season, was disqualified after missing his tee time.

The 72-hole event continues Saturday at all three courses. The final round Sunday, which will include the top 40 pros and ties and top-10 teams, will be held at Pebble Beach. The pro winner will earn $60,000 of the $300,000 purse.

Posted in Champions Tour, Global Golf News