PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (AP) — Todd Clements birdied four of the last six holes for a 6-under 66 and a two-stroke lead Friday in the windy Corales Puntacana Championship.
The 29-year-old Englishman is one of 50 European tour players in the field for the co-sanctioned event played opposite the British Open.
“Just going to keep trying to do the same things.” Clements said. “The field has some great players out here and I know golf does some funny things. It’s just about continuing to do what I do and controlling what I’m trying to control and get out there and see if we can do the same job.”
He closed with a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth to get to 13-under 131.
“Read it well and just went in the right speed so I was delighted to see that one drop,” Clements said. “Overall, it was great day.”
Clements won the 2023 Czech Masters for his lone DP World Tour victory. He missed the cut last week in Kentucky in the ISCO Championship.
Ben James, Johannes Veerman and Gordon Sargent were tied for second. James had a 66, and Veerman and Sargent shot 67.
James is making his fifth professional professional start. The former Virginia star earned a tour spot through the PGA Tour University ranking.
“Just pretty much just do the same thing, hit it nice and putt it nice,” James said about the weekend. “That’s it. Keep it simple.”
Alejandro Del Rey of Spain was 10 under after a 68. Joe Highsmith had a 67 to get to 9 under,
Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, tied with Clements for the first-round lead, had a 71 to drop into a tie for seventh at 8 under.
Blades Brown also was in the group at 8 under. Playing as a special temporary member of the PGA Tour, the 19-year-old Brown shot 69.
U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker was tied for 20th at 6 under after a 68. He won an opposite-field event in Myrtle Beach in May.
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