Colombian Golfers Survive Cut at Valspar Championship

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Colombian golfers Nicolás Echavarría and Camilo Villegas have successfully made the cut at the Valspar Championship, ensuring their participation in the final rounds of the PGA Tour. The competition saw fluctuating scores throughout the day, with Echavarría even taking a brief solo lead at one point before Villegas narrowly avoided elimination.

Echavarría started strong, making an eagle on the first hole and following it up with consecutive birdies on holes 3 and 4, which gave him a two-stroke lead. However, he faced challenges from strong winds, resulting in a double bogey on the 9th hole, another double on the 16th, and a bogey on the 18th. He finished with a score of 72 (+1) and sits tied for 14th place at -2 overall. This marks his return to a PGA Tour weekend since the Genesis Invitational in February.

Villegas experienced a rollercoaster round, with birdies on the 1st, 2nd, and 18th holes, but also bogeys on the 3rd, 8th, and 16th. With a total score of +2, it seemed he might miss the cut. However, the cut line dropped to his score, allowing him to continue in the tournament. The veteran golfer, hailing from Antioquia, has made 423 appearances on the PGA Tour and has five career victories. This year, he has alternated between four made cuts and four missed cuts in 2025, with his best finish being a 7th place at The American Express.

Leading the tournament is American Jacob Bridgeman, who recorded rounds of 67 and 69 for a total of -6. At just 25 years old, he is in pursuit of his first Tour title after finishing second at the Cognizant Classic three weeks ago. Tied just behind him at -5 are Viktor Hovland, Ryo Hisatsune, and Byeong Hun An.

For the third round, Villegas is scheduled to tee off with Canadian Mackenzie Hughes at 7:24 a.m., while Echavarría will partner with American Billy Horschel at 11:05 a.m.

This coverage is brought to you by the Colombian Golf Federation.