Nick Dunlap and Sami Valimaki tie course record at 61 and share the lead in Mexico
LOS CABOS, Mexico (AP) — Nick Dunlap turned a tough lie into a chip-in eagle on his final hole Thursday to tie the course record with an 11-under 61, only for Sami Valimaki to join him about 30 minutes later on a day of low scoring in the World Wide Technology Championship.
Both players were desperate for some good results, particularly Valimaki. The 27-year-old from Finland made a late push to secure his European Tour card with a runner-up finish in Switzerland, but he came to El Cardonal at Diamante ranked No. 103 in the FedEx Cup standings. Only the top 100 keep full status for 2026, and with just three tournaments left, the pressure is mounting.
“It’s not the best pressure, but it’s how it is,” Valimaki said. “At least I made my card back in Europe, so at least I have something over there. I feel like that gives you a little extra freedom. Of course, you want to play here. Just have to play good these last three.”
Valimaki played bogey-free on a picturesque day along the Pacific with no wind, allowing players to take their best shots. His 61 matched the course record first set by Carson Young in the second round last year.
Dunlap, who is well outside the top 100 but still has full status thanks to his two wins last year, played his final six holes in 6-under par, including that remarkable chip-in eagle on the par-5 closing hole. Dunlap’s first win came while he was still in school at Alabama, which led to his decision to turn pro.
“Golf’s been very hard recently and today was the opposite of that,” Dunlap said. “I think I hit every fairway. The fairways are pretty forgiving out here for the most part. Gave myself a ton of good iron and wedge opportunities and rolled it really, really nice.”
The duo held a three-shot lead over a group of five players at 64, including Vince Whaley, who continued his steady climb up the standings. Whaley started the week ranked No. 100 and has improved to No. 89, giving himself some breathing room, but still faces a challenge with tournaments left in Bermuda and the Georgia coast.
Also at 64 was Kris Ventura, who was born in Mexico but moved to his mother’s homeland of Norway when he was 12.
“I’m 50% Mexican, so half my life has been over here almost,” Ventura said. “This is where I started my career—I started very young when I was 3 representing Mexico… and then we moved to Norway.”
Ventura is also aware of the recent tournament history; fellow Oklahoma State alumni Austin Eckroat and Viktor Hovland are past champions.
“Yeah, I’ve seen their pictures up at dining as past winners and I think that would be cool if I can give it a shot,” Ventura added.
The group at 65 included Ryder Cup rookie Ben Griffin, former British Open champion Francesco Molinari, and Matt Kuchar, the 47-year-old trying to keep his full card for another year.
Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year who received a sponsor’s exemption, opened with a 66. Keefer is No. 53 in the world rankings and is hopeful of finishing the year inside the top 50 to secure a spot in the Masters.
U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, playing in his first tournament since the Ryder Cup, was at 67.
More than three-quarters of the 120-man field broke par, with 20 players shooting 66 or better at the Tiger Woods-designed resort course at the southern tip of the peninsula. Its forgiving fairways helped scoring, but the best defense is usually the wind off the ocean—and that was missing Thursday.
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