Thursday, January 7, 1999
Couples hottest
Star-Bulletin staff
in pro-amKAPALUA, Maui -- Freddie's ready.
Fred Couples shot an 8-under 65 at the Plantation Course to lead all pros for the best round in the Mercedes Championships pro-am yesterday.
The 72-hole Mercedes Championships began today at the par-73, 7,263-yard Plantation Course with the elite field of 30 players who won official PGA Tour events last year.
Phil Mickelson, who beat Tiger Woods and Mark O'Meara by a stroke last year when the event was played at California's La Costa County Club, had never played the Plantation Course until this week.
"It's a tough course if you haven't played it before," said Jim Furyk, who won the postseason Kapalua International in 1995.
Which is why Couples could be the player to watch. He has won twice here -- a track record that speaks for itself.
Teams led by pros Steve Jones and Tom Watson shot 56 to share top honors in yesterday's Pro-Am. Jones played with amateurs Chris Bramwell, Judd Swarzman, Chuck Reed and Bob Kearby. Watson partnered with Paul Kenneson, Ralph Hemingway, David Wood and Bob Holmes.
