Nick Dunlap and Sami Valimaki Lead After Suspended Round 1 in Mexico

LOS CABOS, Mexico — The World Wide Technology Championship at El Cardonal is making headlines as golfers Nick Dunlap and Sami Valimaki share the lead after an impressive Round 1. Both players tied the course record by scoring 11-under par with rounds of 61.

The event, featuring a $6 million purse, resumed play Friday morning after the first round was suspended due to darkness, leaving eight players still on the course. They will return to complete their rounds at 7:15 a.m., local time.

Heading into Friday, Dunlap and Valimaki are ahead of the pack by three strokes, with Vince Whaley, Kris Ventura, Matti Schmid, Chad Ramey, and Andrew Putnam tied for third at 8-under.

“It’s always great to start a tournament with a good round,” Dunlap said after his round. “The weather here is perfect, and the course really suits my game.”

Valimaki, who also praised the conducive conditions, added, “I don’t know why, but my performance keeps getting better. Maybe we should play more here in Mexico.”

The championship has returned to El Cardonal, a par-72 course designed by Tiger Woods, for its third consecutive year. It measures 7,452 yards and is known for its generous fairways and large greens.

As the players jockey for position, they will have to consider their performance as only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings maintain their tour privileges for the upcoming season. Current rankings indicate tight competition ahead.

As play continues, the leaderboard promises to change as players navigate the challenges of the course and aim for the coveted championship title.