Points, Bettencourt lead at Pebble Beach

Nov 21, 2009 - 1:47 AM PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.(AP) -- D.A. Points shot a 2-under 70 at Del Monte, and Matt Bettencourt had a 71 in wind and rain at Spyglass Hill to share the second-round lead Friday in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Points, 66th on the PGA Tour money list this season, had a scrambling round with two eagles, three birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey.

"I've had the most fortunate tee time of the tournament at 8:30 and we got through before it got too bad," Points said. "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 rookie season on the PGA Tour, had four birdies and three bogeys to match Points at 6-under 138.

"It was very windy and nasty," Bettencourt said. "It was the toughest I've ever seen Spyglass. It was brutal."

Wind 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 tours 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 a 68 at Del Monte, were tied for third at 5 under.

Two-time tournament winner Mark Brooks, who had a 70 at Del Monte, and Bryce Molder, who shot a 71 at Spyglass, were 4 under.

Olin Browne, who shared the first-round lead with John Cook, shot a 76 at Spyglass Hill to finish at 2 under. Cook, the winner of the Champions Tour's Charles Schwab Cup Championship this month, carded a 77, also at Spyglass Hill.

Cook was among three players at 1 under.

Two-time defending champion Tommy Armour III shot an 80 at Spyglass Hill to finish at 7 over.

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 at even par 144.

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 from the $300,000 purse.