MOTHER NATURE STRIKES PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM: HIGH WINDS FORCE SUSPENSION OF PLAY

PEBBLE BEACH — Once again, the weather has wedged itself into prominence at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Saturday’s third round was suspended shortly after noon because of high winds reaching 32 mph at Pebble Beach, with similar gusts at Monterey Peninsula’s Shore Course. Gary Young, chief referee for the PGA Tour, said the wind was moving golf balls on the No. 9 and No. 15 greens at Monterey Peninsula, prompting the suspension.

“We were looking for anything we could do to keep a golf ball at rest, but we were getting some hairy situations,” Young said.

Asked for examples, he added, “Hairy would be player hitting a putt and the ball temporarily stops and then blows to a completely different position.”

Shortly before 3 p.m., tour officials announced play had been suspended for the day. The third round will resume Sunday at 8 a.m., with amateurs not required to return. Only professionals will compete in the fourth and final round, which is now scheduled to begin Sunday at 12:30 p.m. That will necessitate a Monday finish.

Sunday’s forecast calls for the wind to subside somewhat, but there’s a 60-70% chance of rain throughout the morning, dropping to less than 50% in the early afternoon. So there’s a strong possibility of more weather delays Sunday.

Young said the tour’s meteorologist expects three separate waves of rain Sunday morning, with winds gusting to 25 mph. He didn’t sound especially confident about playing without interruption.

“We’re just going to have to see,” Young said.

Monday’s forecast calls for sunny and dry conditions, with temperatures in the mid-50s.

All 156 pros and 156 amateurs were on the course when play was suspended Saturday. They had finished anywhere from seven to 17 holes of the third round; Young estimated it will take 3½ hours to complete the round.

Peter Malnati led the tournament at 12-under-par when play was suspended, by two strokes over Joseph Bramlett and Keith Mitchell. Malnati had played 12 holes Saturday, Bramlett had finished 13 and Mitchell was through 10.

Mitchell and his amateur partner, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, are tied for fifth in the pro-am competition, so Mitchell figures Allen will return for Sunday’s resumption of the third round.

“I can’t imagine him not showing up,” Mitchell said. “The weather will be better (Sunday) morning than it is in Buffalo, I can promise you that.”

Ron Kroichick covers golf for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ronkroichick

2023-02-05T00:13:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd