Bee Staff Reports

MONTEREY -- Modesto High senior Fredrik Palmer had a strong first day at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open in Monterey.

Palmer and PGA Champions Tour qualifier Jeff Roth of Flint, Mich., teamed up to shoot a 7-under-par 65 at Del Monte Golf Course. That put them tied for third, three strokes behind the leader.

Today, the two will play at famed Pebble Beach, teeing off at noon on hole No. 10. Because of fog delays, not everyone at Pebble finished Friday.

Palmer said of Friday's round, "I got off to a shaky start, and we flip-flopped on the back nine."

Roth opened the day by holing a 100-yard wedge for an eagle on the par-5 first hole. He was 5-under par after six holes. Palmer made some bogeys and didn't help Roth much, but that would change on the back nine.

Palmer made three birdies -- all three times it helped Roth by at least one stroke -- making two long putts.

Should the two finish today's round among the top 22 teams, they would play in the final round at Pebble on Sunday. Palmer had never played Pebble before this week, when he got in two practice rounds.

"After the round, (Roth) told me, 'Good back nine,' " Palmer said. "I told him, 'Good front nine.' "