* Chip-ins Propel Bryan to Early Lead
Two hole-outs from the fringe and clutch putts helped Chris Bryan take the early lead at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship. The American made his intentions clear with a sizzling 64, his best opening round of the season.
Bryan birdied four of his first six holes then chipped in from 55 feet at the seventh before holing out from 43 feet for a two at the ninth. The 183rd-ranked player in the world picked up further shots at 10, 11 and 12 and got up and down from a greenside bunker at 18 to complete a bogey-free round.
His playing partner Justin Suh is one behind after carding a 65 featuring five birdies and a blemish on his card at the par-four 18th. England’s Richard Bland, who won the Spanish Open last month, fired a 66 to join Scott Stallings, Ben Martin, and Taylor Montgomery in tied third.
Player
Score
Chris Bryan
64
Justin Suh
65
Richard Bland
66
Scott Stallings
66
Ben Martin
66
Taylor Montgomery
66
Hole
Yards
Par
1
374
4
9
494
5
18
431
4
Bryan highlights the importance of holing putts. Putting is critical in this course because of the large undulating greens. Lag putting is essential, as well as reading the greens and understanding the speed. He feels that he can be consistently good at holing putts in the forthcoming rounds.
* Bryan Seizes Opportunity with Surgical Approach Shots
A trio of chip-ins and a superb approach to the par-five 12th helped Denny McCarthy grab a share of the lead in the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
The American, who won his first PGA Tour title in 2022, made the greens in regulation just twice in the first six holes but rolled in birdie putts from the fringe at the fourth, fifth and sixth to join Aaron Wise and Austin Smotherman on four under.
Player
Round 1
Denny McCarthy
67
Aaron Wise
67
Austin Smotherman
67
A two-putt birdie on the par-five seventh followed by a chip-in from the front-left edge of the green at the eighth saw him reach the turn in 30.
* Strategic Advantage: Capitalizing on Scoring Opportunities
**Chip-ins Help Bryan to Early Lead at Puntacana**
Bryan took an early lead thanks to a pair of chip-ins in the opening round of the Puntacana Championship on Thursday. The American birdied the first two holes and added another birdie at the par-4 fifth to reach 3 under. He then chipped in for birdie at the par-3 seventh and eagled the par-5 eighth to get to 6 under.
Bryan’s hot start was in stark contrast to his play in the previous two tournaments, where he missed the cut in both events. But he said he was feeling good about his game coming into this week and that he was confident he could contend for the title.
“I’ve been working hard on my game and I’m starting to see the results,” Bryan said. “I’m hitting the ball well and I’m putting well. I just need to keep it going for the next three days.”
Bryan’s 66 put him one shot ahead of a group of four players, including overnight leader Cameron Young. Young shot a 67 despite a bogey on the 18th hole.
Player
Score
Tom Hoge
65
Russell Henley
66
Cameron Young
67
Jhonattan Vegas
67
Emiliano Grillo
68
Other notable scores:
- Joaquin Niemann: 69
- Louis Oosthuizen: 70
- Scottie Scheffler: 71
- Rory McIlroy: 72With birdies on the 10th, 15th, and 16th holes, and chip-ins on the 11th and 13th holes, Bryan has surged to a four-stroke lead halfway through the third round of the Puntacana Championship. This impressive performance underscores his remarkable skill and bodes well for his chances of securing a victory at this tournament.
