Brooks, Fowler lead at Pebble Beach

Nov 22, 2009 - 1:59 AM PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.(AP) -- Rickie Fowler shot a 5-under 67 at Del Monte, and former PGA champion Mark Brooks had a 69 at Spyglass Hill on Saturday to share the third-round lead in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

The 48-year-old Brooks, the tournament winner in 1992 and 2002, and Fowler, the 20-year-old former Oklahoma State star who had two top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour last month, had 7-under 209 totals.

"I just played pretty solid," said Brooks, who had four birdies and one bogey. "I wasn't really in a lot of trouble."

In addition to his two Pebble Beach Invitational victories, Brooks was second behind LPGA Tour star Juli Inkster in 1990.

"If it's a nice day, guys can go low," Brooks said about the final round at Pebble Beach. "I've played so many rounds here, it's mind-boggling."

Fowler, who earlier this week was invited by Greg Norman to play in the Shark Shootout, had five birdies in his bogey-free round.

"I had never played the course before," Fowler said. "My caddie had walked the course, so I relied on him a lot. It made it a lot easier and I made a couple of good putts, too."

Second-round co-leader Matt Bettencourt shot a 69 at Spyglass Hill, and was tied with Bryce Molder at 6 under. Molder had a 70 at Pebble Beach.

Former U.S. Open winner Scott Simpson, who carded a 68 at Spyglass, and Craig Bowden, who had a 73, also at Spyglass, followed at 4 under. Simpson was the leader among the 11 Champions Tour entrants. A Champions Tour player has never won the event.

Two-time defending champion Tommy Armour III had a 70 at Pebble Beach en route to a 5-over total. He made the cut by two strokes.

Mina Harigae, who will make her debut on the LPGA Tour next season, shot a 70 at Spyglass. At 2 under, she was the lone woman to make the cut.

The top 40 pro scores and ties and the top-10 amateur teams advanced to the final round. The pro winner will earn $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.