Scott Piercy leads tournament after first round at Torrey Pines
Scott Piercy birdied two of the last three holes on the Torrey Pines North Course on Thursday to shoot an 8-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament.
Piercy is a former San Diego State University golfer who turned professional in 2001.
Ben Crane, Matt Every, Ryuji Imada and Chris Tidland all shot 65, leaving them one shot back at seven under par.
Play at the tournament formerly known as the Buick Invitational followed traditional form, with 14 of the top 15 golfers on the leader board having played the north course, which is considered to be the easier of the two in play during the first two rounds of the tournament.
The top score on Torrey Pines South was from Robert Allenby, who shot 5-under-par, which should put him in a strong position for the weekend.
The other 14 players will have to contend with the more difficult south course on Friday. Both weekend rounds will take place on the south course.
Phil Mickelson survived his tangle with Torrey Pines South by shooting 2-under-par, and Rocco Mediate shot a 3-under-par on the north course.
Mediate became a local favorite after his 2008 U.S. Open duel with Tiger Woods, who won the tournament but is not on the PGA tour this year as he deals with a sex scandal.
The tournament’s new sponsor plans to debut a 246-foot-long Zeppelin, touted as the world’s largest airship, at the show. The so-called “Farmers Insurance Airship” will provide aerial television coverage of the tournament. It will be emblazoned with a giant Farmers Insurance logo.
Parking around Torrey Pines for the tournament is restricted to those who bought a special pass, organizers said. However, shuttles will run from Qualcomm Stadium and the Del Mar Show Park. The cost is $15 round-trip.
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- Stars still expected at Torrey Pines event
- LPGA action continues at Torrey Pines
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