American Jones takes early control at Pebble Beach

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters) - Little-known American Kent Jones upstaged some of the biggest names in the game by charging one stroke clear in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am first round on Thursday.

The 41-year-old journeyman from New Mexico fired a six-under-par 66 in relatively benign conditions at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues being used this week.

John Mallinger carded a 67 at Poppy Hills to lie one off the pace, level with fellow Americans Roland Thatcher and Tour rookie Brad Adamonis, who both opened at Spyglass Hill.

Long-hitting J.B. Holmes, who won last week's Phoenix Open in a playoff with Phil Mickelson, was among a group of 10 bunched on 68 after starting out at Spyglass Hill.

Jones, who improved his status on the PGA Tour by tying for 11th at last year's qualifying school, birdied his first two holes in glorious sunshine to reach the turn in four-under 32.

He rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-four fourth, his 13th hole of the day, before picking up another stroke at the par-three seventh, where he hit his tee shot to six feet.

"I got through the back nine before the wind really started blowing," Jones told reporters after a bogey-free round. "Getting under par early helps you relax on the greens here at Pebble and I putted great today.

"In the practice rounds, I was hitting the ball okay and my putting was feeling better so I felt like I had a chance to maybe play well this week.