Pate takes one-shot lead with 67

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Jerry Pate moved into position for his second consecutive Champions Tour victory, shooting a five-under-par 67 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Scott Hoch in the Allianz Championship.

Pate, the Turtle Bay Championship winner two weeks ago in Hawaii, had an 11-under 133 total on the Old Course at Broken Sound.

He eagled the par-four 13th, holing a sand wedge from 95 yards. The ball landed about a foot past the cup and spun back into the hole.

“That was exciting,” said Pate, the 1976 U.S. Open winner.

Hoch also shot a 67, birdieing four of the first seven holes. John Cook (66), Bruce Lietzke (65), Mark McNulty (69) and Bobby Wadkins (68) were two shots back at nine under, and defending champion Mark James (66) was eight under along with Eduardo Romero (67), Jim Thorpe (67) and Ben Crenshaw (68).

Pate might be tough to catch.

“He’s playing better than anyone else right now,” Lietzke said. “He’s on a roll, for sure.”

Hoch remembers watching Pate win two weeks ago in inclement conditions in Hawaii.

“If he can play that way tomorrow, it may be tough to catch him,” Hoch said. “Luckily, we don’t have a Tiger [Woods] out here.”