John Cook rebounded from a late double bogey with two birdies and took a one-stroke lead over Skip Kendall and Tom Byrum into the final round of the Nature Valley First Tee Open at the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Cook, who played at Miraleste High in Ranchos Palos Verdes, had eight birdies in a round of 4-under-par 68, overcoming a double-bogey 5 on the fifth hole while finishing on the front nine at Pebble, one day after shooting 67 at Poppy Hills.
“I will draw on my experience (in the final round),” said Cook, who captured the 1975 California State Amateur and the 1981 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, both at Pebble Beach. “It will be a big day for me and I want to see how I hold up.”
Kendall followed a 67 at Poppy Hills with a 69 at Pebble, while Byrum came in with a 68 at Poppy Hills one day after positing the same score at Pebble Beach.
Marco Dawson was two shots back in solo fourth following a 68 at Poppy Hills, while Paul Goydos of Dove Canyon, coming off his victory in the Pacific Links Hawaii Championship, was another stroke behind in a tie for fifth after a second 69 at Poppy Hills.
Also in the tie for fifth were Champions Tour rookie Davis Love III (67 PB), Fred Funk (69 PH), Jeff Hart (67 PB), Lee Janzen (70 PH) and Jay Haas (70 PB).
