Hank Lebioda, second from right, waits to putt on the 18th green of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
PEBBLE BEACH — Of all the traditions stored on the iCloud of golf on the Monterey Peninsula, perhaps the most consistent is that unheralded players often excel early at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The leaderboard was again crowded Thursday with unexpected names. Hank Lebioda emerged with a one-shot lead over three players after a first-round, 8-under 63 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club.
Lebioda, whose best PGA Tour finish in 101 career events is a tie for third at the 2019 Bermuda Open, had nine birdies and one bogey on the par 71 Shore Course to christen this year’s tournament.
“I felt like everything was going right, to be honest with you,” said Lebioda. “I hit a lot of great iron shots. I made the putts when I was close. It was just a nice day. It was a really nice day.”
Lebioda had five birdies in six holes on the back nine but finished with three straight pars.
“For probably the last couple weeks or so I felt like my putting had really turned a corner,” Lebioda said. “Even though I may not have shown the results. But I felt more confident standing over the ball. I liked what I was looking at visually standing over it.
“I knew it was just a matter of time. So today fortunately it was one of the days where quite a few of ’em did go in. Not every day is like that. I was glad I was able to take advantage of it today.”
Harry Hall, a PGA Tour rookie from England who lives in Las Vegas, had five straight birdies beginning on the third hole, his back nine at MPCC, to move to 8 under. But Hall, playing in his 16th career PGA Tour event, bogeyed the seventh and finished with two pars for a 64 at MPCC.
Kurt Kitayama, who has two runner-up finishes but is winless in 46 PGA Tour events, had a 64, also at MPCC.
“I just felt really solid today; I hit it well,” said Kitayama. “I finally got some putts to drop. It was just a good overall day.
“My irons were really working. I felt really comfortable out there. I hit some really good shots. Especially like on 9, long par-3. Then just started to feel comfortable with my putter.”
Chad Ramey, a one-time PGA Tour winner who has played in 40 career events, had a front-nine 30 at Pebble Beach with four straight birdies beginning on the fourth hole, carded a 65 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Defending titlist Tom Hoge, one a handful of former AT&T winners in the field, had three birdies in his first six holes at Pebble Beach but played the remaining 12 holes with four bogeys en route to a 71.
Matt Fitzpatrick, the reigning U.S. Open titlist, the world No. 10 and one of three top 20-ranked players in the field, shot 71 at Spyglass Hill
Viktor Hovland (No. 12) had a 70 at Spyglass Hill. Jordan Spieth, (No. 16), the 2017 AT&T winner, had 71, also at Spyglass Hill.
“Spyglass is hard, it’s a tough test,” said Spieth, the runner-up last year. “I would have liked to have done better on my front nine. That was really gettable.
“Then I thought I played the back nine really well. It was really bizarre the last four holes or so with the wind. It went from nothing to flipping and then blowing about 25 out of nowhere in the other direction than the forecast. That throws us through a big loop when you’re prepping for something and you got to make the adjustment.”
Scott Stallings, a three-time PGA Tour winner, is grouped at 5 under after a 67 at Pebble Beach. His round included an eagle on No. 11, five birdies and two bogeys.
“It was very cold this morning; I have not hit range balls out of frost in a long time,” said Stallings. “But it warmed up quick. The golf course held up great with all the rain that they have had.
“I left a few out there, but I’m sure a lot of guys will say the same thing. It’s there for the taking. You got to keep it in front of you and manage it. Some of the challenging holes are still challenging, but you definitely have a lot of opportunities to make birdies.”
Stallings was in prime position last year at the AT&T after rounds of 67 and 68. But he missed the cut after a third-round 77 at Spyglass Hill where he will play Friday.
“Spyglass is an interesting test,” Stallings said. “I was in a great position going into Spyglass last year and struggled. I didn’t necessarily do anything bad, it was just, sort of got in a bad position, made a bogey when I probably shouldn’t have. Spyglass is the hardest place to play feeling like you have to make birdies.”
Originally published at James Raia