Coughlan six shots behind Lehman

Tom Lehman completed an eight-under-par 64 to take a onestroke lead after the first round of the rain-soaked $2.5 million Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am yesterday.

Lehman, who played his first round over two days on the Pebble Beach course, recorded his second straight four-under 32 to move one stroke ahead of Phil Mickelson, who was tied with Lehman after nine holes. Mickelson, who played the Poppy Hills Golf Course, shot a 33 for 65.

Six players, including nine-hole co-leader Tom Pernice, were on 67 through 18 holes. Included in that group was Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, who won last week's Phoenix Open, and Tom Watson, a two-time champion who was runner-up last week.

Ireland's tour rookies Richard Coughlan and Keith Nolan had mixed fortunes, Nolan having an up and down round at Poppy Hills where he finished with a 73.

He birdied his first hole yesterday to get to two under par, only to fall back when he dropped shots at the 12th, 13th and 18th. Coughlan, playing the back nine at Pebble Beach, finished with a two under par 70.

He made a great par save at the 10th when he holed from 18 feet, then parred all the way to the 17th where he dropped his only shot of the round after hitting a three iron through the green. His attempt to make par after chipping from the rough hung on the edge of the hole but refused to drop.

He recovered magnificently at the par five 18th where he was faced with hitting a wedge directly towards the ocean from the right rough with 92 yards to go to the flat hoping the wind would blow the ball back towards the green. The plan worked perfectly and he made the birdie from six feet to finish as he started the day on two under par.

"What can I say. I wasn't going to miss that putt at 18 after the 17th. It was just a grind out there on the last few holes when the wind got up," said Coughlan, delighted with his performance, as were the band of supporters and relations that had followed him every step of the way.

"If Lehman has shot 64 on that course today that is unbelievable golf. I am very happy with the round and after making that putt at the last I feel confident about tomorrow. I'm really focused and Red, my caddie, is doing a great job."

Coughlan tackles Spyglass Hill in the second round while Nolan goes down the road to Poppy Hills.

Tournament officials limited play to nine holes Thursday and nine yesterday in an attempt to overcome weather problems. There is the possibility the final round will be played Monday, or the tournament will be shortened to 54 holes.

Organisers hope to avoid a repeat of 1996, when rain on the final two days cancelled the event after two rounds.

All three courses in use for the event are par-72. Pebble Beach, which would be used for a fourth round, measures 6,799 yards, while Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills are 6,810 and 6,865 yards, respectively.