Theegala, Bhatia advance at Farmers Insurance Open on PGA TOUR

SAN DIEGO: Sahith Theegala finished birdie-birdie to ensure the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on Thursday.

Runner-up at the opening event this season, the Indian-American, who shot 72 in the first round added a 68 and at 4-under 140 he made the cut in Tied 50th place.

Also making the cut was Akshay Bhatia (70-71) on the cutline at T-64 and he was 1-under for 36 holes.

Bhatia was in the Top-15 in his first two starts of the season in Hawaii. Aaron Rai, who also has an Indian connection from his parents' side, has rounds of 66-70 and is lying T-7 and is 8-under and five shots behind the leader.

Stephan Jaeger of Germany holed a 35-foot eagle putt on his final hole for an 8-under 64 and took a one-shot lead over Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark after the second round. The 32-year-old Jaeger was at 12-under halfway through the tournament.

Jaeger shot a 68 on the South Course a day earlier. Hojgaard shot a bogey-free 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.

Tony Finau (66, North Course) and Michael Kim (68, South Course) were 9-under. Aaron Rai (70), Emiliano Grillo (69) and Joseph Bramlett (66) were all at 8-under after playing the South Course. San Diegan Xander Schauffele ranked No. 5 in the world, was in a group of 13 at 7-under after a 68 on the North Course.

The first-round leader Kevin Yu (64-74) fell off the pace after a 74 on the South Course. Yu is now T-23. Defending champion Max Homa, ranked No. 7 in the world, shot a 70 on the North Course and was at -4 under.

Hideki Matsuyama shot his first PGA TOUR hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth on the South Course during his round of 71.