PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) Jeff Gove shot his third straight 3-under 69 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over three players in the Pebble Beach Invitational.
Gove, who will play next season on the Web.com Tour, eagled the sixth hole and had three birdies and two bogeys at Pebble Beach to reach 9-under 207.
Champions Tour players Kevin Sutherland and Duffy Waldorf were tied for second with the Web.com Tour's Travis Bertoni. Sutherland, the 2000 winner, had a 69 at Spanish Bay. Waldorf, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, shot a 68, also at Spanish Bay. Bertoni had a 68 at Spyglass Hill.
''The course really firmed up and it played thought; and I hit the ball great,'' Gove said. ''I didn't make many putts, but I really struck the ball well.''
Gove, a three-time winner on the Web.com Tour, last played on the PGA Tour in 2013.
''My career has been a struggle the past couple of years,'' Gove said. ''But my game isn't far off. It's a matter of the mental grind and figuring out how to work on my game the proper way.''
Champions Tour player Joe Durant was 7 under after a 71 at Spyglass Hill.
First-round leader Kim Welch of the Symetra Tour had a 71 at Spyglass Hill. She was tied for seventh at 3 under and was among two of nine female entrants to make the cut. Natalie Gulbis had a 72 at Pebble Beach to reach 2 under.
Second-round leader James Driscoll had a 78 at Pebble Beach that included a two-stroke penalty. He was 1 under.
