By IANS
Pebble Beach (California) : Daniel Chopra continued his fine run on the PGA Tour with a steady three-under 69 that put him tied 15th in the celebrity-laden AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Thursday.
Chopra, currently third on the Order of Merit on US Tour, played with the well-known comedian George Lopez, who is a steady 12-handicapper. Together the pair is leading the amateur scores with professional Brad Adamonis and Christopher Clark. Both pairs had a combined score of 63.
Chopra and Lopez played on the Poppy Hills course, as three courses are being used for the tournament. The other two courses are Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill.
Chopra had five birdies and two bogeys in his round. After a sedate opening nine during which he shot a birdie and bogey to turn in even par, Chopra had a fine back nine with three birdies in four holes from tenth. He birdied the tenth, 11th, 13th and the closing hole the 18th. In between he dropped a shot on 14th.
Also tied in 15th were Korea’s Yang Yong-eun and Australian Andrew Buckle, both members of the Asian Tour. Yang, who won the 2006 HSBC Champions, finished his round with an eagle at the par five 18th hole while Buckle shot four birdies against a bogey in the opening round on the US PGA Tour event.
Kevin Na of Korea shot a 71 in tied 44th position while compatriot Charlie Wi had a slow opening day after a 73 in joint 84th place.
Amongst professionals American Kent Jones, a relatively unknown player in the heavy-duty star cast, went one shot in lead with a six-under-par 66 in good conditions at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues being used this week. Jones shot a six-under 66 and led by a stroke over three others, John Mallinger, who played at Poppy Hills while Roland Thatcher and Adamonis shot 67s at Spyglass.
Three-time winner and champion Mickelson overcame a poor start with four bogeys in first 10 holes to card a 71 at Poppy Hills.
The field of 180 professionals and 180 amateurs play each of the three venues over the first three days before the leading 60 professionals and ties qualify for Sunday’s final round on the Pebble Beach Golf Links.