PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Pat Perez, winner of last December's PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, fired a fast-closing 7-under-par 65 Friday to surge to a four-shot lead midway through the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Perez has received nowhere near the attention of tour superstar Tiger Woods or 17-year-old phenom Ty Tyron, despite an impressive resume that boasts victories over both.
While Woods has struggled though the first two rounds in his return to the tour and Tryon is back in high school in Florida after last week's inauspicious debut, Perez recorded eight birdies after an early bogey.
He had a 36-hole total of 13-under 131, four shots ahead of two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen.
Janzen, who tied for fourth last week at the Phoenix Open, shot a 67 Friday. Jerry Smith was alone in third place at 136 while Fred Couples, seeking his first victory since 1998, was at 13.
Woods played at Spyglass Hill Friday, but managed just a 73 for a 1-under 141 total. He was tied for 48th place. At the 1993 Junior World event at Torrey Pines, Perez won the title, finishing eight strokes ahead of Woods.
Matt Gogel was fifth after 36 holes at 138 while the group at 139 included Jesper Parnevik and first-round leader Brent Schwarzrock, who shot a 75.
Former U.S. Amateur champion Matt Kuchar was tied for the lead midway through the round, but took a triple bogey on No. 10 at Pebble Beach and dropped back to 140.
