KITE SIZZLES IN CHILLY WEATHER TIES TOURNEY COURSE RECORD WITH 64, TAKES AT&T LEAD.Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Qualifier and first-round leader Mitch Adcock started fast. Three-time season winner Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts (born June 24 1955) is an American professional golfer. He was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly. lurked early. Andy Bean Thomas Andrew "Andy" Bean (born March 13, 1953) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the amateur and professional level including 11 PGA Tour victories. responded with his best play of the year. But it was Tom Kite Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. (born December 9, 1949) is an American professional golfer. Kite was born in McKinney, Texas. He began playing golf at age 6 and won his first tournament at age 11. who got really hot in the coldest round of the 2006 Champions Tour on Saturday, riding a tournament course-record back nine of 29 to a 64 that tied the tournament course record in the AT&T Classic at Valencia Country Club. Playing in weather that produced occasional rain and a wind-chill factor wind-chill factor n. The temperature of windless air that would have the same effect on exposed human skin as a given combination of wind speed and air temperature. of 31 degrees, Kite birdied seven of his final nine holes to finish 8 under par for the day and take the tournament lead at 10-under 134. ``That was pretty good - I don't shoot many 29s,'' said Kite, who enters today's final round with a one-stroke lead over second-place Bean (65-135) and is two strokes ahead of third-place Adcock (70-137). Tom Purtzer Thomas Warren Purtzer (born December 5, 1951) is an American professional golfer who has won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour. Purtzer was born in Des Moines, Iowa. (70-139), Roberts (69-140), Ben Crenshaw Ben Daniel Crenshaw (born January 11, 1952) is an American golfer. He was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas before turning professional in 1973. (72-140) and defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Des Smyth Des Smyth (born 12 February, 1953) is an Irish golfer. Smyth was born in Drogheda, County Louth. He turned professional in 1974 and was a member of the European Tour for over a quarter of a century. His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit was seventh in 1988. (71-140) also finished within six shots of the lead on a cold but relatively dry day when the weather commanded almost as much attention as the low-scoring leaders. ``We didn't quite hit four seasons,'' Bean said, ``because it certainly wasn't summer anywhere out there, but we hit three of the seasons, and it really was a day to stay patient. I was fortunate in that I got off to a real good start.'' Kite said everyone was fortunate the rain wasn't as heavy as had been expected. ``We've gotten lucky two days in a row,'' Kite said. ``We had some rain, but it wasn't prolonged and it wasn't a big deal.'' The cold was a bigger deal and something Kite handled as well as he did partly because of growing up in Texas, ``where playing golf in cold and wind can be just part of the deal,'' according to the 1992 U.S. Open champion. Kite said that background was an advantage, ``because you're going to get some wind and you're not going to have great conditions and you learn how to play in it, and you learn how to practice in it.'' The old memories helped Kite hit seven back-nine iron shots within 16 feet of the flagstick flag·stick n. A removable pole with a flag marking the placement of each hole on the putting greens of a golf course. , all followed by birdie putts on a chilly day he admitted that, ``I kind of quick-stepped a couple of times down the fairway.'' Bean was stepping out quickly early, starting eagle-birdie, then adding two more birdies on a back nine that included a bogey and double-bogey. Bean's play Saturday continued his good run on Valencia's four par-5 holes, which he has played in 7 under par through the first two rounds. He eagled No. 1 both days, hitting the flagstick with a chip shot on Saturday, then watching the ball roll back into the cup. ``That was just a fortunate start there,'' Bean said. ```I'm striking the ball quite well. I just need to get the greens down. For me, out here in California ... whether it was 25 years ago or now, that's always been the tough part for me.'' Kite's start wasn't nearly as fortunate Saturday, when he went into his ninth hole 1 over par. But he eagled that par-5 to launch a run that left him 9 under par for his final 11 holes. ``It was one of those days where not much was happening early,'' he said. The eagle at No. 9 got the round going.'' First-round leader Adcock, who got into the tournament by winning a Monday qualifier, then shot 67 in his opening round, started Saturday with back-to-back birdies. He added another birdie three holes later and eagled his ninth hole in a round that included three bogeys. Dave Shelburne, (818) 713-3609 dave.shelburne(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) Tom Kite waves to the crowd after sinking a shot on No. 10 Saturday at the AT&T Classic at Valencia Country Club. (2) Mitch Adcock, the first-round leader, finished with a 70 Saturday and sits in third going into today's final round. Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News Box: (1) LEADERBOARD lead·er·board n. A board that displays the leaders in a competition. leaderboard Noun a board displaying the current scores of the leading competitors, esp in a golf tournament (2) CHAMPIONS-AT&T CLASSIC SCORES |
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