Solid starts for Power in Dominican Republic and Maguire in LA
Séamus Power
Séamus Power enjoyed one of his best ball-striking days this season to open with a five-under 67 in the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic.
The West Waterford man is 88th in the FedEx Cup standings and did not qualify for the $20m RBC Heritage at Harbor Town.
But he made an excellent start at Puntacana Resort, firing six birdies in a five-under-par effort to lie just five shots behind leader Joel Dahmen.
Power missed just one fairway and only two greens in regulation on a low-scoring day.
He lies tied for 19th on five under and chasing Dahmen, whose bogey-free, 10-under 62 gave him a two-shot lead over Keith Mitchell, England’s Matt Wallace and South Africa’s Garrick Higgo.
Dahmen, whose lone PGA Tour win came in this event in 2021, set a course record on a day when half the field broke 70.
Apart from a two-year exemption, there’s a lot at stake for Power as the winner also earns a spot in next month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
It was also a good day for Leona Maguire in the JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro in Los Angeles.
The world number 60 made six birdies in a four-under 68 at El Caballero Country Club to sit joint 24th after the opening round.
She’s five shots behind South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and China’s Yan Liu, who shot 63s to lead by a shot from Sweden’s Frida Kinhult.
“You’ve got to be a little creative, which I think plays into my hands,” Buhai said of El Cabellero.
“I like to see different shots, especially off the tee.
“I feel it suits a drawer a little bit better because there are a few shots off the tee box where I hit 3-woods just because I hit a fade and there is a tree up the left, or -- so it's just about playing to the right spaces and thinking your way round here.
“You can't just get up and hit it. I think that's why I like the course, too.”
World number one Nelly Korda was tied for 15th after a 67.
