Alvaro Ortiz delights home crowd with 64 to share lead at Mexico Open
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Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico putts on the 14th green during the second round of the Mexico Open.
PHOTO: AFP
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MEXICO CITY – Local favourite Alvaro Ortiz has his sights set on a second Mexico Open title as he heads into the weekend with a share of the lead at the PGA Tour event at Puerto Vallarta.
He delighted the home crowd with a seven-under round of 64 and sits atop the leaderboard alongside England’s Matt Wallace (65), Finland’s Sami Valimaki (67) and American Jake Knapp (64), all on 11-under 131.
Ortiz teed off on the 10th and made five birdies on his first nine holes, then added an eagle on the par-five sixth hole.
“It was pretty solid. From tee to green it was as good as it could be. I hit the ball very well and just felt very comfortable out there,” said the 28-year-old.
“It was very clean, very stress-free and I was glad to be able to make that eagle on six. I feel like I was losing a little bit of momentum leaving a couple putts go, but it was good to get that one back. Happy to be in the position I’m in.”
The Mexican won the event in 2021 when it was part of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, and having played college golf at the University of Arkansas and clinching the 2019 Latin American Amateur Championship, he now plays on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour.
The Guadalajara native said he is enjoying the backing of the Mexican crowd.
“It’s awesome, it’s awesome to have my family, to have my friends, to have my people. We don’t get to play much in Mexico, so it’s pretty cool to be out here, to be playing well and feel the support from them,” he said.
Wallace also made eagle on the sixth during a blistering five-under on his final nine holes as he made up for two bogeys on the 10th, his first hole, and the 15th.
“I think it’s just a ball-striker’s golf course. You obviously need to putt well every single week, but if you’re hitting fairways and greens, you’ve not going to be giving shots away and you can make a bunch of birdies,” he said.
Valimaki has won twice on the DP World Tour and put himself in contention despite bogeys on the second, 13th and 14th. The 25-year-old finished strongly with birdies on the par-three 17th and par-five 18th.
Knapp had a chance to grab the solo lead as the light faded but saw his seven-foot birdie putt on the 18th lip out.
South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen was a shot behind the leading quartet after following up his opening round 63 with a solid 69. AFP
