Alvaro Ortiz among 4 co-leaders at
Mexico Open
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[February 24, 2024]
Alvaro Ortiz fired a 7-under-par 64 to move into a tie for
the lead at his national open, the Mexico Open at Vidanta, on Friday
in Vallarta, Mexico.
Ortiz is tied with Jake Knapp, England's Matt Wallace and Finland's
Sami Valimaki at 11-under 131 at the par-71 Vidanta Vallarta. Knapp
also posted a 64, Wallace a 65 and Valimaki a 67 in the second
round. They are one shot ahead of first-round leader Erik van Rooyen
of South Africa (69 on Friday).
Ortiz, 28, won the Mexico Open in 2021, the final year before the
PGA Tour put the tournament on its schedule. He sits at No. 669 in
the Official World Golf Ranking but picked up a pair of victories on
Mexico's professional golf tour last year.
"I think I closed very strong the Latin America season and then
playing very well in the Mexican Tour and that carried over, that
momentum, to Q-School," Ortiz said. "Been playing really well. Just
excited to get this opportunity."
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He began his Friday round on the back nine and birdied Nos. 10, 12,
14, 16 and 18. The highlight came at the par-5 sixth hole, when his
downhill, right-to-left eagle putt dropped from 30 feet away. Ortiz
drove all 13 fairways in regulation.
"I think definitely the ball-striking, it was very solid from tee to
green," Ortiz said. "I actually putted very well. Didn't make as
many putts as yesterday, but definitely feel very solid out there.
Just very comfortable. And I've been working really hard on my swing
this past year and it's good to see the hard work's paying off."
Ortiz said he doesn't feel more pressure playing on home soil.
"No, it's more fun, it's more fun," he said. "I don't get to do (it)
that often. As many people, the yelling, it's fun. I don't get that
much in the States, but it's pretty cool to see how many people are
coming and hopefully it will be packed this weekend."
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Like Ortiz, Knapp stayed bogey-free on Friday,
sinking seven birdies. He tied for third at the Farmers Insurance
Open last month.
"I drove it really well again and then struck the
ball really, really well," Knapp said. "Didn't have my best day on
the greens, but struck the ball really well, gave myself a ton of
chances. Was pretty stress-free for the most part."
Valimaki had three bogeys eat into his seven birdies, while Wallace
used a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch at Nos. 5-7 late in his round to
make his move.
"I was beating it with three holes to go today, but I just changed
that into I need to beat the course with the last three," Wallace
said. "I birdied 7 and parred 8 and 9, which are two really strong
holes. They were my scores, that's what I achieved and it kept me
focused."
Mark Hubbard shot a 65 to move into a tie for sixth with Andrew
Novak (68) at 8 under. Chan Kim (69) is in eighth at 7 under.
Defending champion Tony Finau shot a 67 to join a massive group in
ninth. Nineteen players are tied at 6 under through 36 holes.
The cut line fell at 2 under par. Charley Hoffman (even par), South
Koreans K.H. Lee and S.H. Kim (1 over) and Italy's Francesco
Molinari (2 over) were among the notable players to miss the cut.
--Field Level Media
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