SoCal Contingent Heads Into Farmers Weekend

January 27, 2017

By: Jonathan Coe

After the first two rounds of action at Torrey Pines, SoCal has a steady presence on the leaderboard heading into the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open:

J.J. Spaun (-3, T-21, Pictured)

The Los Angeles native played a flawless round on the vicious South Course.

Spaun tallied three birdies and no bogeys for a blemish-free 3-under 69. Teeing off behind the Mickelson/Fowler/Walker group, focus was paramount and Spaun was able to dial it in.

After seven straight birdies, Spaun stiffed a 9-iron on the par-3 No. 8 to four feet for a kick-in birdie, jumpstarting his back-nine. Spaun would birdie No. 13 and No. 17 on the way in, keeping him within distance of the leaders.

Cameron Tringale (-3, T-21)

Following up an impressive 3-under 69 on the South Course yesterday, Tringale was able to maintain his standing amongst the leaders with an even-par 72 on the North.

A busy scorecard led the Laguna Niguel native to five bogeys but also five birdies, including four within a six-hole stretch.

After bogeying his first hole of the day, Tringale kept his composure and ripped off birdies on No. 4, 5, 8 and 9 before capping off the birdie barrage with another on No. 17.

Beau Hossler (-2, T-35)

Two-time SCGA Amateur Champion Hossler followed up his blistering hot professional debut round of 5-under 67 by securing his spot in the weekend.

Up against the big brother of Torrey Pines and playing on a sponsor’s exemption, Hossler battled the South Course all day. Teeing off No. 10, Hossler carded four bogeys in his first eight holes before birding the par-5 No. 18 and gaining some much needed momentum into the back nine.

Hossler was able to right the ship and shoot an even-par 36 on the backside, showing consistency in his ball-striking that was absent on the front.

His nine straight pars served a testament to the strong mental fortitude of a young pro in the making.

Pat Perez (-2, T-35)

The San Diego native and local favorite Perez got off to a hot start, collecting birdies on the tough No. 2 and No. 4 on the vaunted South Course. However, all was erased as the SoCal veteran double bogeyed No. 6 and bogeyed No. 8.

Heading onto the back in need of a jumpstart, Perez parred No. 10-12 before jumping all over No. 13, reaching the par-5 in two. He lagged a 40-foot putt short and tapped in to get him back to even for the round.

But whenever Perez took one step forward, it was one step back. He bogeyed No. 14 and No. 17 to end the day with a 2-over 74.

"I'm excited to play the weekend," said Perez. "I didn't play real well today so I'm not in the best of moods right now. But you always want to play the weekend, at least you have a chance to do something. We'll see what happens the next two days. We'll try to make some putts and see what happens.

Phil Mickelson (-1, T-48)

Always a crowd favorite, the La Jolla resident garnered huge galleries all day. Those patrons who chose to walk with Lefty were treated to a classic Mickelson round.

The always-entertaining Mickelson delighted the masses with five birdies, three of which came on the front nine. But unable to find consistency with the driver, Phil also carded five bogeys, mostly attributed to the brutal rough that gobbles up errand tee shots.

"I feel like the way I struck it, the way I drove it, the way my game feels, I think my game is very close to clicking," said Mickelson. "It's going to click. I don't know exactly when, but it's going to click any day and I'm hoping it's tomorrow because I would love to get one more title here."

After a bogey on No. 17, Mickelson bounced back with his best wedge shot of the day from 75 yards out, sticking it to six feet to end with a birdie and a bang.

"Even though I'm very close to the cut line, I'm only seven shots off the lead on a golf course you can make up a lot of ground, especially when you go out early because the greens are pristine, they're in great shape," said Michelson. "But as we get traffic, they become progressively more difficult because of the soft conditions. I'm going to probably go pretty early because of being right on the cut line and I might have a chance tomorrow to get off to a hot start and get in it for Sunday."

Aaron Wise (-1, T-48)

The 2015 SCGA Amateur Runner-Up and NCAA Individual Champion was able to string together a second consecutive steady round, vaulting himself into the weekend competition.

The PGA TOUR rookie took on the South Course today and pieced together a stellar front nine. After par on the first four holes, Wise birdied No. 5 and No. 6 before dropped stroke at the par-4 462 yard No. 7.

Like a savvy veteran, Wise bounced right back and birdied the par-5 No. 9 for a front nine 2-under 34.

The back nine proved to be less kind, as Wise tried to hold it together down the stretch, eventually carding an even-par 72.

Brendan Steele (-1, T-48)

Steele found himself in the top-10 of the leaderboard heading into the day, beginning off on the North Course’s No. 10 tee.

After birding his first hole of the day, Steele began a rollercoaster-like ride for the rest of the front nine. A birdie on No. 12 was followed by a bogey on No. 13 and then another tweeter on No. 14. A bogey on No. 16 was then rectified by a birdie on No. 17 as he stuck to the script.

When the dust settled, Steele was able to claw his way to a 2-over 74, good enough to survive into the weekend.

Charley Hoffman (E, T-67)

Amongst his fellow San Diegans, local legend Hoffman bounced back from a rocky 2-over 74 yesterday to make the cut right on the number.

Hoffman took his crack at the newly renovated North Course and came away licking his chops to the tune of four birdies, two on each side.

Most impressive was his ability to finish the round under immense pressure and expectation. Hoffman went birdie-birdie on No. 17 and No. 18 to make the cut in dramatic fashion, securing his weekend at home on the golf course.

Brian Campbell (E, T-67)

The Irvine native was able to build on his first round 73 by firing off a 1-under 71 on the South Course.

Campbell bounced back from back-to-back bogeys on his first holes to earn a sand save birdie on No. 13 to stop the bleeding. After another dropped shot on No. 14, Campbell put his approach on No. 15 to within three feet for his second birdie of the day.

He then carded three birdies in nine holes, securing a weekend stay here in San Diego.



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thevaporz

Handicap Index: 13.5
Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Was a fantastic week out at TP this year, as always! So glad the rain let up for the weekend. Looking forward to another exciting finish next year.