GOLF

Vilips surges ahead with birdie streaks

DT··2 MIN READ

Vilips surges ahead with birdie streaks
Text size

VALLARTA, Mexico — Karl Vilips rode two impressive birdie streaks to seize the first-round lead with a 9-under-par 62 in the VidantaWorld Mexico Open on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Australian opened with five consecutive birdies on Nos. 11-15 at Vidanta Vallarta and closed with four straight birdies to take a one-shot lead over Japan’s Kensei Hirata.

Vilips, who won the 2025 Puerto Rico Open for his lone PGA Tour title, credited his driving for setting up the low score. He hit the fairways consistently despite lift, clean and place conditions.

“Had it on a string for the first nine,” Vilips said. “Got a little loose in the middle and got it back on course toward the end of the round.”

Hirata carded a 63, highlighted by an eagle on No. 3, where he sank a 20-foot putt, while Ben Griffin, Marco Penge, Garrick Higgo and Jeffrey Kang shared third place at 64.

Mexico’s Alvaro Ortiz delighted the home crowd with a bogey-free 65. The former tournament champion won the event in 2021 when it was part of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica schedule and secured his PGA Tour card for next season through the Korn Ferry Tour.

“It was lovely. Bogey-free, played really solid. I felt like I was just flowing the whole day,” Ortiz said.

Vilips, a former Stanford standout, is also looking to improve his position in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, where he sits 141st. Hirata is 170th, while Penge is 112th, with players battling to secure places inside the top 100 to retain their Tour status.

Penge, who has played only 18 tournaments this season because of health issues, carded an eagle on No. 3 and said his priority was getting back to full fitness.

Defending champion Brian Campbell opened with a 67, while reigning US Open champion Wyndham Clark shot 69.

John Daly II, son of two-time major winner John Daly, carded a 70 while competing on a sponsor exemption.

The Mexico Open is the first of two consecutive PGA Tour events in the country, with the World Wide Technology Championship scheduled next week at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos.