Mickelson clings to share of Pebble Beach lead

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2007

PEBBLE BEACH, California (AFP) — Reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson fired a two-under par 70 and clung to a share of the lead after 54 holes at the 5.5 million-dollar US PGA Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Mickelson played the front nine at par on Spyglass Hill, hardest of three courses being used for the opening rounds, before birdies at the par-5 11th and par-4 17th kept him even with Kevin Sutherland in the lead at 14-under par 202.

Sutherland fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 at Poppy Hills to grab a place in the final twosome for Sunday's final round, which will be played over famed Pebble Beach after a cut to the low 60 was made Saturday.

American John Mallinger was third on 203 with another four strokes back to fourth-place compatriots Davis Love and...