VALLARTA, Mexico — Alvaro Ortiz bought off to a powerful begin and did simply sufficient proper on the finish for a 7-under 64, giving him a share of the lead Friday within the Mexico Open as he goes for one more victory in his dwelling nation.
This is able to be the largest of all for Ortiz, who gained twice on the Mexican Golf Tour on the finish of final 12 months. Ortiz is the youthful brother of Carlos Ortiz, a PGA Tour winner who signed with Saudi-funded LIV Golf.
Ortiz was at 11-under 131 at breezy Vallarta Vidanta, tied with Jake Knapp, Matt Wallace of England and Sami Valimaki of Finland. Ortiz had a 64 of his personal late within the afternoon, Wallace shot 65 and Valimaki had a 67.
Ortiz, who grew up in Guadalajara, has been looking for his method since leaving Arkansas. He already has performed within the Masters because the 2019 Latin America Novice champion, and he certified for the U.S. Open in 2021 at Torrey Pines.
He’s again on the Korn Ferry Tour this 12 months after splitting time final 12 months on the Asian Tour, Mexican Golf Tour and Tour Americas.
“The extra I play, the extra comfy I really feel and I begin to notice that I’ve the sport,” Ortiz stated. “I have been doing good work and (making an attempt to) put 4 rounds collectively. Hopefully, I can do this this weekend.”
Ortiz began on the again 9 and went out in 31, making birdie on all three of the par 5s, including a pair of birdies within the 10-foot vary. He made all pars on the entrance 9 apart from an eagle on the par-5 sixth.
“It was very clear, very stress free and I used to be glad to have the ability to make that eagle on 6,” Ortiz stated. “I really feel like I used to be shedding somewhat little bit of momentum, however it was good to get that one again. Completely happy to be within the place you I am in.”
First-round chief Erik van Rooyen picked up a pair of late birdies on the scoring holes and salvaged a 69, leaving the South African one shot behind.
Knapp is making his ninth profession PGA Tour begin, hoping to construct on a third-place tie final month at Torrey Pines. The previous UCLA participant bought to 11 below with a 193-yard method to 2 inches on the par-4 sixteenth, then missed an opportunity to take the outright lead on the par-5 18th when his 7-foot birdie strive stayed out.
Wallace completed with a 30 on the entrance 9 for the 65 that felt even higher given his uncommon method to golf these day. He’s identified to begin slowly and be pressured to rally, so he and his caddie are actually pretending they already are over par earlier than even teeing off. Wallace determined he would begin today at 3-over par.
“Then I bogeyed it, so I used to be 4 over, so I needed to get it again,” he stated. “That form of willpower and focus actually helped.”
Valimaki joined them with birdies on his final two holes, each putts from the 6-foot vary.
Valimaki was amongst 10 gamers from the European tour who earned PGA Tour playing cards this 12 months. he was the primary to get to 11 below till lacking a 5-foot par putt on the par-3 thirteenth, after which hitting into the water on the par-5 14th and making bogey. He completed robust, nevertheless, and goes into the weekend with excessive hopes.
Santiago de la Fuente of Mexico, who gained the Latin American Novice final month to qualify for the Masters, had a 69 and was 5 pictures behind.
