PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – John Cook shot a 4-under 68 at Pebble Beach on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Tom Byrum and Skip Kendall in the Champions Tour’s First Tee Open.
Cook had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey to reach 8-under 135. He won the 1981 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach for the first of his 11 PGA Tour titles.
Kendall, playing in his second Champions Tour event after earning a spot in the field in open qualifying Tuesday, had a 69 at Pebble Beach. Byrum shot a 3-under 68 at Poppy Hills.
The final round will be played at Pebble Beach.
Marco Dawson was fourth at 6 under after a 68 at Poppy Hills.
Davis Love III, also making his second Champions Tour start, and two-time U.S. Open Lee Janzen topped the group at 5 under. Love had a 67 at Pebble Beach, and Janzen a 70 at Poppy Hills.
First-round leader Blaine McCallister was 4 under after a 73 at Pebble Beach.
Rod Spittle is the leading Canadian. He shot a second straight 70 and is 3 under.
Two-time defending champion Kirk Triplett was 2 under after a 72 at Pebble Beach.