Mallinger tops Gore to win Pebble Beach Invite

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – John Mallinger won the Pebble Beach Invitational on Sunday, birdieing four of the last six holes for a 4-under 68 and a two-stroke victory over Jason Gore.

Mallinger, who lost his fully exempt PGA Tour status after finishing 133rd on the money list, made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to finish at 15-under 273 in the event featuring 76 male and female players. He earned $60,000 in the $300,000 tournament sponsored by Callaway Golf.

Mallinger, who also led after the second and third rounds, had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the final round played in intermittent rain.

“I putted well today and putted well all week,” said Mallinger, who has eight top-three finishes but is winless since joining the PGA Tour in 2006. “I love Pebble Beach. It’s tough to beat Pebble Beach.”

Gore, who will join Mallinger in the PGA Tour’s final qualifying tournament, closed with a bogey-free 65.

“I tried, but I just got outplayed,” said Gore, who also birdied the final round. “But I played well and I’ll take the momentum to Q-School.”

Pat Perez (65) and Champions Tour player Russ Cochran (71) tied for third at 11 under. Cochran, who began the final round trailing by one stroke, held a one-stroke lead after birdieing the 11m but bogeyed the 13th and Mallinger soon began his final birdie spree.

Annika Sorenstam, completing her first 72-hole tournament since her LPGA Tour retirement in 2008, shot a 73 to finish at 3 under.

“It’s funny, you don’t play for two years and then you go inside the ropes and the mindset comes back,” Sorenstam said. “It’s there, which is too cool. But you can’t make the same shots anymore.”

Morgan Pressel shot a 72 to finish at 7 under, the best among the 13 LPGA Tour entrants.

Tommy Armour III, the 2008 and 2009 winner, withdrew before the final round because of personal reasons.

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Mallinger maintains one-shot lead at Pebble

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John Mallinger during the 2010 Turning Stone Resort Championship at Atunyote Golf Club.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – John Mallinger, no longer fully exempt on the PGA Tour after finishing 133rd on the money list this year, shot a 2-under at Del Monte on Saturday to maintain a one-stroke lead in the Pebble Beach Invitational.

Mallinger had an 11-under 205 total in the Callaway-sponsored event that features 76 male and female players. Russ Cochran, a two-time Champions Tour winner, was second after a 70 at Spyglass Hill.

Annika Sorenstam, competing for one of the few times since her 2008 retirement, was seven strokes back after a 71 at Pebble Beach, the site of the final round.

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Mallinger takes lead at Pebble Beach Invite

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John Mallinger during the second round at the PGA Championship.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – John Mallinger, no longer fully exempt on the PGA Tour after finishing 133rd on the money list this year, birdied five of his last six holes at Pebble Beach for 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead in the Pebble Beach Invitational.

Mallinger had nine birdies and two bogeys in the second round to reach 9-under 135 in the 76-player event that features male and female professionals.

“I pretty much made everything out there,” said Mallinger, third twice in the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. “I just always feel comfortable here. It’s like home.”

PGA Tour winner Matt Bettencourt, the first-round leader after a 64 at Del Monte, had a 72 at Spyglass Hill to drop into a tie for second with two-time Champions Tour winner Russ Cochran and four-time LPGA tour champion Candie Kung. Cochran had a 65, and Kung shot a 68, both at Del Monte.

“I played pretty well, but I didn’t hit it below the hole,” said Bettencourt, the Reno-Tahoe Open winner in July for his first PGA Tour title. “That’s the key at Spyglass. The greens were firm and fair and that’s what makes it a great course.”

D.A. Points was fifth at 7 under after a 66 at Pebble Beach.

Annika Sorenstam, competing for one of the rare times since her retirement in 2008, shot a 72 at Spyglass Hill, leaving her six strokes back at 3 under.

Twenty-five players shot sub-par rounds, nine fewer than in the opening round. Del Monte produced 17 of the under-par scores in the second round.

Kevin Streelman, who had a first-round 69 at Del Monte, was disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard at Pebble Beach.

Defending champion Mark Brooks, the seven-time PGA Tour winner and only three-time Pebble Beach Invitational champion, will likely moss the cut after shooting a 78 to finish at 11 over.

The top 40 and ties following the third round will advance to the final round Sunday at Pebble Beach. The winner will receive $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.

The tournament is sponsored by Callaway Golf.

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Bettencourt leads Pebble Beach Invitational

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – PGA Tour winner Matt Bettencourt shot an 8-under 64 at Del Monte on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the Pebble Beach Invitational, while Annika Sorenstam opened with a 69 at Del Monte in a rare competitive start since her retirement in 2008.

Bettencourt, the Reno-Tahoe Open winner in July who finished 114th on the 2010 money list, had two eagles, five birdies and a bogey in the Callaway Golf-sponsored tournament that features 76 male and female players.

“I started slow, but hit a great shot on No. 9 from about 250 yards to 12 feet and got the eagle,” said Bettencourt, who tied for fourth in the tournament last year. “I didn’t know I was in the lead, but I knew 64 or 65 was out here. Del Monte on a day like today is a pretty benign course.”

Bettencourt birdied three of the final four holes, but missed a 15-inch birdie putt on the 14th.

“It was a good round, although I left some putts out there,” he said.

LPGA Tour player Morgan Pressel, PGA Tour veteran Bryce Molder and New York club pro Heath Wassen opened with 66s, also at Del Monte.

Five players, including Champions Tour player Tom Purtzer, shot 67s.

Ten of the top 11 opening-round scores were posted at Del Monte, which is used in rotation with Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach for the first three rounds. The final round will be played at Pebble Beach.

Defending champion Mark Brooks, the only three-time Pebble Beach Invitational winner, had a 77 at Del Monte. Juli Inkster, who in 1990 become only female player to win the event, shot a 2-under 70 at Pebble Beach.

The winner will receive $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.

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