Hoey is in the mix after solid round

Rico Hoey collected seven birdies against a lone bogey to surge into contention on Thursday at the start of the 2025 Barracuda Championship, held at the picturesque Old Greenwood course at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California.

The 29-year-old Filipino-American, who proudly represents the Philippine flag on the PGA Tour, earned 13 points in the tournament’s modified Stableford scoring system.

Unlike traditional stroke play, the Barracuda Championship uses a modified Stableford format, which encourages aggressive play by rewarding risk-taking and offensive strategy. In this system, players receive five points for an eagle, two points for a birdie, zero points for par, lose one point for a bogey, and lose three points for a double bogey or worse.

Hoey’s seven birdies (worth 14 points) offset by one bogey (minus 1 point) gave him a total of 13 points — a strong showing that reflects both precision and bold play on a course known for its altitude and challenge.

The modified Stableford format tends to favor players willing to go for birdies and eagles, making consistency in scoring less valuable than a fearless approach. Hoey’s early position puts him firmly in the hunt as the weekend approaches.

Meanwhile, Ben Martin scored 16 points to take a two-point lead over David Lipsky and Nick Watney.

Martin, 37, rebounded from back-to-back bogeys with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to finish strong at the Tahoe Mountain Club, 6,000 feet above sea level.

“It’s cold, I’m getting old,” said Martin, whose lone PGA Tour win came in 2014. “I had low expectations, made some early putts, and gained confidence.”

Lipsky racked up 15 points on his first nine, including an eagle on No. 15, but lost three after a bad bounce on No. 2. Watney, 44, the last of whose five tour wins came in 2012, also sits at 14 points.

Cameron Champ is three points back at 13, tied with Rico Hoey, Joel Dahmen, Danny Walker, Dale Whitnell, and Todd Clements. Andrew Putnam, the 2018 champion, is at 12.

Max Homa lost a point, while defending champ Nick Dunlap dropped six and NCAA winner Michael La Sasso lost seven. German twins Yannik (0 points) and Jeremy Paul (-2) also struggled.