Potter & Snedeker Now in Front at Pebble Beach


Ted Potter Jr. and Brandt Snedeker have taken the lead in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. The $6.5 million event began Thursday at three courses along California's Monterey Peninsula.

Potter, who logged his first PGA Tour title last year in the Greenbrier Classic, carded a 3-under 67 on the par-70 Shore course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, while reigning FedEx Cup champion Snedeker posted a 4-under 68 at Spyglass Hill.

The two players are at 8-under 134 through 36 holes, one shot ahead of Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson (6-under 66) and Patrick Reed (69) both at Pebble Beach Golf Links, John Merrick (3-under 67) and first-round co-leader Hunter Mahan (69), both at Monterey Peninsula.

Snedeker is off to a hot start this year, with runner-up finishes in the past two tournaments. He was second to Phil Mickelson in last week's Phoenix Open and was T-2 behind Tiger Woods at the Farmers Insurance Open two weeks ago at Torrey Pines.

"I didn't make a lot of putts today but look forward to going into the weekend, confidence is very high, and after last week, feel like my game is where I want it to be and two good days to go, should be a lot of fun," Snedeker told PGATour.com.

"I take nothing but positives away from the way I've played the weekend the last couple events," the 32-year-old Nashville native added. "I know I'll have a lot of fun this weekend, so just try to re-create that. That's how you win out here; you keep putting yourself in position, and the more times you do, that the more success you're going to have."

Sharing seventh at 6-under are Patrick Cantlay (70) and Aussie Jason Day (68) at Spyglass Hill, and James Hawn (65) and Aussie Nick O'Hern (66), who each posted their scores at Monterey Peninsula.

Scotland's Russell Knox, who began Friday tied for the lead with Mahan, slipped into a tie for 11th at 5-under after a 73 at Spyglass Hill. Also at that number are Chris Kirk, Justin Hicks, Retief Goosen, Sean O'Hair and Matt Every.

Defending champion Mickelson is at 2-under after a 1-under 71 at Spyglass Hill. "Lefty" is bidding for his fourth career victory in the AT&T.

Another notable score was a 65 at Monterey Peninsula by former Masters' champion Mike Weir, who went 10 strokes lower than his opening round at Pebble Beach. The Canadian is at 2-under heading into the weekend.

Play resumes on all three courses Saturday, with the low teams and professionals making the cut moving on to Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach.

For complete scoring, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.