Erik van Rooyen shot an 8-under-par 63 to take the first-round lead at the Mexico Open at Vidanta on Thursday in Vallarta, Mexico.
Scorching the front nine at Vidanta Vallarta with an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole and birdies on Nos. 3, 4, 7 and 9, van Rooyen went out in 29. The South African mixed in an eagle, a birdie and a bogey with his six pars on the back nine.
He established a one-stroke lead over Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who secured second place by himself with a 7-under 64.
The last time van Rooyen played an event in Mexico, he picked up his second career PGA Tour win at the World Wide Technology Championship last November in Los Cabos.
“I don’t know what it is about Mexico,” van Rooyen said. “The food is amazing. This resort especially, it’s pretty laid back. We’ve got great facilities here, beautiful hotel, so it’s just quite a relaxing place and we have a good golf course to boot, so it’s always just sort of good vibes.”
Playing one day after his 34th birthday, van Rooyen stuck his second shot at No. 6 less than 7 feet from the pin and made the ensuing eagle putt. When he got to the 12th, he showed off with his wedge, chipping from 70 feet away and watching his ball roll around the entirety of the cup before falling for his second eagle.
“Yeah, 12’s a funky one because we played it into the wind in the practice round and you obviously can’t get there for two,” he said. “So today was downwind, smash 3-wood and just a beautiful little pitch. It’s something I’ve been working really hard on and to see that goes in, it feels good.”
Valimaki, who started his day on the back nine, drove the green on the par-4 seventh hole and converted a 12-footer for eagle.
But Valimaki said he hurt his wrist on his second tee shot of the day and played through some pain.
“Sometimes I have the same issue like in my backswing, just sometimes feel it like it’s hurting a little bit, like a little pain and then I get a bit scared of it,” Valimaki said. “Hopefully it’s good (Friday).”
David Lipsky, Sweden’s Henrik Norlander, South Africa’s MJ Daffue and Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar are tied for third at 6-under 65.
Playing on a sponsor exemption, Del Solar is competing in his first PGA Tour event since shooting a 57 earlier this month on the Korn Ferry Tour — the lowest 18-hole score ever recorded at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. He had seven birdies and one bogey on Thursday.
“Just been consistent, just not making very many mistakes, try to simplify just the sport in general,” Del Solar said. “I think I just, you know, my strategy was really good, I strike the ball good, putt the ball great today as well.”
Among eight players three shots back in a tie for seventh at 66 were Andrew Novak and Cameron Champ. Mexican amateur Santiago De la Fuente opened with a 4-under 67.
Defending champion and pre-tournament favorite Tony Finau was tied for 29th after a 2-under 69.
–Field Level Media
