​Punta Cana, Dominican Republic — England’s Todd Clements and Spain’s Ivan Cantero Gutierrez fired matching 7-under 65s on a breezy Thursday at the Puntacana Resort & Club layout to share the first-round lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship. The co-sanctioned event, played opposite The Open Championship, features 50 DP World Tour players among the field. Both Clements and Gutierrez had missed the cut last week in Kentucky at the ISCO Championship, adding an extra layer of motivation as they chased a strong start here.
“I just think the whole place is an enjoyable place to be,” Clements said. “You turn up and it’s a relaxing environment. You just get to enjoy myself, and I kind of felt like it came out in my golf today.” The conditions were challenging, with winds gusting up to 22 mph across the Corales course, testing even the most precise shotmakers. Clements put together nine birdies and two bogeys, including a late stroke on the par-3 17th in the morning session. This was a significant performance for the 2023 Czech Masters winner, who claimed his lone DP World Tour title at that event and now sits atop the leaderboard after a spectacular start.
“I’m actually delighted with how I played today,” Clements added. “There are a few tweaks I’m going to try and solve this afternoon, but for the most part I was absolutely delighted and I’m looking forward to tomorrow and what that brings.”
Not far behind, a cluster of players were one stroke back, including Austin Eckroat, Alejandro Del Rey, Johannes Veerman, Mackenzie Hughes, Jonathan Byrd, and Gordon Sargent. Eckroat, who has two PGA Tour wins, is looking to build momentum after tying for 30th at the Scottish Open last Sunday. “We were over in Scotland last week trying to qualify for the British Open, but when we found out we’d be here, we said, ‘Well, someone’s got to win it,’” Eckroat commented. “It’s huge going into the rest of the season with so many points available and good momentum.”
In the mix on a day of bold scores was Blades Brown, who fired a 67 after gaining entry to the field as a special temporary member. On the opposite end of the spectrum, U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker carded a 70, having competed in an opposite-field event in Myrtle Beach in May. Defending champion Garrick Higgo opened with a 72, while Sangmoon Bae, playing on a sponsor exemption, endured a difficult start with a 77 as he continues his comeback in the wake of mandatory military service in South Korea nearly a decade ago.
As the leaders head into the second round, the field will seek to capitalize on favorable conditions and the opportunity to rack up valuable points in the points-rich schedule ahead. The Corales Puntacana Championship is poised to deliver another round of dramatic golf amid Punta Cana’s sun-drenched skies, with the winds likely to remain a constant test for the players as they navigate the unique hazards of the Corales course.
Watch the Corales Puntacana Championship at Puntacana Resort & Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as the tournament unfolds. Fans can expect a dramatic second round as the players battle the gusting trade winds, the course’s coastal layout, and the race to position themselves for a strong finish in this co-sanctioned event that sits at the intersection of the DP World Tour schedule and PGA Tour momentum. The narratives surrounding Clements and Gutierrez, along with the chasing pack led by Eckroat and the others, promise an eventful weekend in the Caribbean.