Farmers Insurance Open: Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley led the first round at Torrey Pines
Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley both fired 10-under par 62 on the opening day of the Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course to take the top position on the leaderboard on Thursday, January 26, 2012.
Stanley started off with a birdie and collected a total of four on the front nine. However, a bogey on par-four 11th put him back on three-under.
That was the time when he was seen surging on top of the leaderboard with five birdies on the next six holes, followed by a spectacular eagle on the final hole on the North Course at the Torrey Pines.
With his eagle putt, he levelled with his compatriot Levin, who had an outstanding bogey-free round with 10 birdies on the first day.
There was not a single hole that looked as if there was any chance for Levin to miss the par for a bogey.
“A round like today gives you confidence that you're doing the right things,” Stanley said. “I know it was a 62, but it was a pretty boring round of golf. I hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts”.
“The course is in good shape, the fairways are nice and the greens are soft. You can be pretty aggressive with your irons but you’ve got to hit solid putts. If you don't hit solid putts, it will bump up on you,” he added.
Another American, Bill Haas, finished the round on the second position, with a nine-under par 63. He scored 11 birdies in total, which were the highest of the day.
However, a double bogey on par-three sixth put him back on the second position on the leaderboard.
Haas had recently moved back to his belly putter and looked quite comfortable while playing on the greens. It seemed as if his form was back and he was ready to give a tough competition to his opponents on the course.
Rod Pampling, Josh Teater, John Huh and Vijay Singh were in a four-way tie with an eight-under par 64.
The players switched the courses on the second day of the tournament. They felt comfortable while playing on the North course, as it is the easier of the two available at the Torrey Pines.
The average on the North Course was recorded at 69.244 as compared to 72.846 on the South Course in the first round.
As the year comes to a close, players are wrapping up their schedules. It will be worth the wait to see how Spencer Levin and Kyle Stanley will start their next golf season.
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