Bradley, Steele take 1-shot Shootout lead

• By Associated Press
• Dec 10, 2011 4:17 PM ET

NAPLES, Fla. – PGA champion Keegan Bradley and Brendan Steele shot a 10-under 62 in better-ball play Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Mark Calcavecchia and Nick Price in the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

Bradley and Steele had a 19-under 125 total at Tiburon Golf Club.

“Our goal was to have two people in on every hole, and not make stupid, aggressive plays, and just play the way we normally play, and we did,” Bradley said. “We had a lot of fun. We were making putts and birdies. It seems easy right now, and we’re excited to play that scramble tomorrow.”

Calcavecchia and Price, trying to become the first Champions Tour duo to win the 12-team event, had a 63.

Rory Sabbatini and Jhonattan Vegas were two strokes back at 17 under after a 60, and Rickie Fowler and Camilo Villegas were 16 under after a 63.

The event will finish Sunday with a scramble round.

Nine teams were tied for the lead or within a stroke before Bradley and Steele birdied Nos. 7-10 to take a two-stroke advantage. They also birdied four of the last six holes, but Calcavecchia and Price made birdies on six of the final seven to draw within a stroke.

“We definitely thought that at some point we could kind of separate ourselves a little bit, maybe get that two- or three-shot advantage,” Steele said. “We were two ahead for a while and wanted to push it to three or four. You’d always like it to be bigger, especially with those guys there. They’ve got so many shots and they’re playing so good, they’re tough.”

Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker, the longtime Madison, Wis., friends who the event in 2009, were four strokes back at 15 under along with Kenny Perry and Scott Stallings. Kelly and Stricker had a 65, and Perry and Stallings shot a 62.