Barracuda notebook: Bronson’s shot precedes him to PGA Tour

RENO — Bronson Burgoon’s reputation precedes him.

Burgoon, the Texas A&M grad, is best known for his 125-yard gap wedge shot that landed just inches from the hole and gave the Aggies their first NCAA championship back in 2009.

It was a shot Golfweek called “one of the best in the history of college golf.” It gave the Aggies a 3-2 win in the final match.

Burgoon is now making some noise on the PGA Tour. The rookie has six top-25 finishes in 21 events, and has made $504,418 thus far. He tied for 14th at the Honda and tied for 18th at the FedEx-St. Jude Classic. He currently sits at 141 on the money list.

Burgoon has played solid in his first trip to Reno.

On Friday, he made an early charge up the leaderboard, scoring five quick points on the front side with birdies on the par-3 2nd, the par-4 4th and the par-5 8th to get to 16 points. On the back nine, he struggled with his putter, however, and bogeyed 15 and 18 to finish with a plus-3 on the day.

“I got off to a decent start,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I played good on the back. I got no putts to fall. The scoring opportunities I had, I didn’t come close to taking advantage of them. I had my chances, but I had two lip outs. It’s a little frustrating, but looking forward to (Saturday).”

Burgoon recently changed coaches, switching to Pablo-Del Olmo of Mexico.

“We are changing up some things with my golf swing,” Burgoon said.

HOLE REPORT

The most difficult hole on Friday was the par-4 5th which played to an average of 4.354, yielding just six birdies, 42 bogeys and five double-bogeys.

The easiest hole on the course was the par-5 18th which played to a 4.454. The hole yielded 10 eagles, 67 birdies, nine bogeys and two double-bogeys.

The course played to a 72.085, slightly higher than Thursday.

SMITH UPDATE

Fallon’s Scott Smith missed the cut with a 36-hole total of minus-3 following a minus-5 round on Friday.

Smith opened his round with six straight pars, but he bogeyed the par-3 16th and doubled the par-4 17th. He got two of those points back when he birdied the par-5 18th.

He bogeyed the par-4 1st, birdied the par-3 2nd and then doubled the par-3 3rd.

After three straight pars, he bogeyed the par-3 7th.

WITHDRAWALS

John Huh withdrew on the 17th, citing back issues. Lucas Lee withdrew after completing 10 holes.

MAKING THE CUT

A total of 81 players made the cut at 7 points, meaning split tees will be used the entire weekend.

FORMER CHAMPS

Other than Gary Woodland (plus-22), Will MacKenzie (plus-18) and Geoff Ogilvy (plus-7), no other former champions will be in action this weekend. John Rollins finished with 7 points, Steve Flesch 5, J.J. Henry 3, Parker McLachlin minus-3 and Matt Bettencourt was at minus-7.