Wesley Bryan Leads with Spectacular 63 at Corales Puntacana Championship
Wesley Bryan shines at the Corales Puntacana Championship with a stellar 9-under 63, leading by three strokes. Follow the intense competition as former champions like Charley Hoffman and rising talents like Parker Coody vie for victory.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Wesley Bryan made the most of his time away from the RBC Heritage, carding a scintillating 9-under 63 to claim a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Corales Puntacana Championship on Thursday.
The South Carolina native, who secured his lone PGA Tour victory at the RBC Heritage in 2017, showcased his prowess with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 fourth and another chip-in birdie on the par-3 17th. Bryan’s flawless round, which matched his lowest on the Tour, also included five additional birdies, including two to close out his round.
Trailing Bryan by three shots are a group of five players, including former PGA Tour winners Charley Hoffman and Troy Merritt, as well as PGA Tour rookie Parker Coody. Rounding out the group at 6-under 66 are Billy Horschel and Pierceson Coody, the twin brother of Parker.
The Corales Puntacana Championship is an alternate event held concurrently with the RBC Heritage, providing an opportunity for players to earn valuable FedEx Cup points and qualify for the PGA Championship. With the season winding down, every event holds significant importance, as Hoffman acknowledged.
“This year every event means a ton,” said the 47-year-old Hoffman, who is seeking to build on his playoff run at the WM Phoenix Open earlier this year. “Everyone knows how important it is to get in that top 50, top 70 to get in the playoffs. I got off to a good start this year, struggled a little bit — I didn’t struggle, just missed a couple cuts by a few shots.”
While the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links is known for its post-Masters respite, the Corales Puntacana Championship provided a different vibe for Nicolai Højgaard. The 23-year-old Dane, who finished tied for 16th at the Masters, carded an up-and-down round of 1-over 73, with five birdies and six bogeys.
Højgaard is the lone Masters participant making the trip to the Dominican Republic this week.
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