Eagle on final hole has Jaeger on top
SAN DIEGO — Stephan Jaeger of Germany made a 35-foot eagle putt on his final hole for an 8-under 64 and a oneshot lead over Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark after the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday.
Jaeger was at 12 under halfway through the tournament on the blufftop layout overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He started on the back nine of the easier North Course and leapfrogged Hojgaard with his eagle on the par-5 ninth to sit atop a crowded leaderboard.
“Finishing like that, yeah, it was exciting,” said Jaeger, who birdied five of his first eight holes and had just one bogey.
Jaeger shot a 68 on the South Course on Wednesday. He said his strong finish Thursday doesn’t give him much momentum because the final two rounds are on the South Course.
“But it’s always nice to make eagles and birdies,” said the 32-year-old Jaeger, who has been on tour since 2018 and is still looking for his first win. “Nobody can take those away from you. I’m pumped to play the South Course two more days. I love this place. This is probably one of my favorite tournaments every year.”
Hojgaard shot a bogeyfree 66 on the North Course and was at 11 under. Thomas Detry of Belgium and Matthieu
Pavon of France were 10 under after playing the South Course. Pavon played a consistent round of 65 with just one bogey while Detry had two bogeys in his final four holes for a 68.
Dunlap decides to join PGA Tour
Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap is turning pro after becoming the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour.
Dunlap announced his decision Thursday in a campus news conference, four days after the reigning U.S. Amateur champion won The American Express. He secured the one-shot victory with a 6-foot par putt on the final hole.
The 20-year-old will make his professional debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Feb. 1.
Ko, Korda share Drive On lead
Lydia Ko tried to conserve her energy after her victory last weekend in the LPGA Tour’s season opener, but she clearly did enough to keep her game sharp.
The former world No. 1 shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead with Nelly Korda at the LPGA Drive On Championship in Bradenton, Fla.
Nanna Koerstz Madsen was one shot back, and second-ranked Ruoning Yin was part of a big group at 67 that included another past major champion, Sei Young Kim.