Langer Starts off Hot in First Tee Open


Bernhard Langer carded a nine-birdie 63 at Del Monte Golf Course to take the opening round lead in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

The 54-hole $1.8 million Champions Tour event began Friday on California's Monterey Peninsula.

The 56-year-old German World Golf Hall of Fame member - currently ranked No. 2 in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup standings behind Kenny Perry - is an 18-time winner on the over-50 circuit and has two titles this year.

All of Friday's low scores came at Del Monte, which is used with the tougher Pebble Beach Golf Links for the tournament that pairs First Tee junior players with Champions Tour regulars in a pro-am format.

Langer's opening effort gives him a four-shot lead over Tom Lehman, Andrew Magee, Kirk Triplett, Mark McNulty and Dough Garwood, who all posted their rounds at Del Monte.

The low score at Pebble Beach - with several rounds still to be completed as this story went to press, was a 71 by Bobby Clampett and Chien Soon Lu.

For updated scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/tournaments/nature-valley-first-tee-open-at-pebble-beach/leaderboard.html.