Oregon's Xiong misses Farmers Insurance Open Cut
Oregon sophomore Norman Xiong
(Oregon Athletics Photo)
LA JOLLA, CA (January 26, 2018) - Playing in his first PGA Tour event Norman Xiong held his own but ultimately missed the cut by three-strokes at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Even-par after an opening 72 on Torrey Pines South Course, Xiong had his moments on the North Course during the second round but he could truly never get it going.
The Oregon sophomore did begin his round with a birdie on the par-5 10th but a bogey on No. 11 and a double-bogey on the 12th followed to drop Xiong back to 2-over for the tournament.
Looking to make a late charge Xiong birdied the 5th hole, his 14th of the day, and also jarred his second shot into the 322 yard par-4 7th to return to 1-over for the tournament but the run proved to be to little to late. Xiong ended up signing for a 2-over 74 on Friday
Some other notables names to miss the cut at 2-over are former SMU star Bryson DeChambeau and Sam Burns who stared at LSU the last two years.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Making his PGA Tour debut Norman Xiong opened with an even-par 72 at the Farmers Insurance Open.
On Thursday the Oregon sophomore, playing on a sponsorship exemption, played on the famed South Course at Torrey Pines and couldn't have got off to a better start with a birdie on the opening hole. Showing little by way of nerves Xiong jarred a 17-foot birdie putt on the hole.
The birdie was the first of three on the opening side to go along with just one bogey as he made the turn in 2-under 34. For much of the back nine it looked as if Xiong would sign for an under-par tally in his first round on the PGA Tour but bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes saw the Walker Cupper slip back to level-par.
Among those at even-par in a tie for 84th following the first round are Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and fellow Team USA Walker Cupper Will Zalatoris who turned professional during the fall.
Along with playing on the Walker Cup team last year Xiong played on the winning American Arnold Palmer Cup team, won the Western Amateur in August and also added two medalist titles during the fall season.
The first title was a shared victory at the Rod Myers Invitational before winning the Nike Collegiate Invitational outright a month later.