Akshay Bhatia fired a bogey-free, 8-under-par 64 at Spyglass Hill Golf Course to reach 15-under 129 and tie Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune for the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Friday in Pebble Beach, Calif.
Hisatsune was the solo first-round leader thanks to a 62 at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Thursday but settled for 67 at Spyglass Hill that featured his first two bogeys of the tournament.
Rickie Fowler is in the hunt for his first win in more than 2 1/2 years after shooting 64 at Spyglass Hill. He moved to 14 under for the tournament, one back of the leaders and tied with Sam Burns (67, Spyglass) for third.
The field played one round apiece at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill before they spend the weekend rounds at Pebble Beach. There is no 36-hole cut at the $20 million signature event.
Bhatia, 24, is searching for his third career title and biggest achievement on tour. He tied for third last week at the WM Phoenix Open.
Hisatsune was also in contention at Phoenix but settled for a T10. His performance there helped him qualify for this week’s elite field through the Aon Swing 5 pathway.
Min Woo Lee of Australia had a 65 at Pebble Beach to take over fifth place at 12 under. The low round of the day belonged to Harris English, whose 63 at Pebble Beach represented a 10-stroke improvement from his over-par round at Spyglass the day before. English is 8 under.
As play wound down Friday afternoon, Scottie Scheffler was tied for 34th at 6 under. He followed a pedestrian 72 at Pebble with a 6-under 66 at Spyglass, featuring a five-hole stretch on his second nine with three birdies and an eagle.
