Nick Dunlap and Finland’s Sami Valimaki find themselves tied for the lead at the World Wide Technology Championship after shooting bogey-free, 11-under-par 61s on Thursday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Six players had not yet finished their rounds when play was suspended due to darkness at 5:41 p.m. local time. They will wrap up Friday morning before the second round begins as scheduled.
Dunlap went 6 under through his final six holes by making four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 18th at El Cardonal Golf Course. Valimaki spread 11 birdies across his card.
The duo led by three strokes over a group tied at 8-under 64: Vince Whaley, Chad Ramey, Andrew Putnam, Norway’s Kris Ventura and Germany’s Matti Schmid.
U.S. Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin was another shot back at 7-under 65, as were veterans Matt Kuchar and Francesco Molinari of Italy.
Dunlap, 21, is best known for winning The American Express in 2024 as an amateur, earning a PGA Tour card through 2026. He added a second win that year at the Barracuda Championship, but struggled mightily in 2025 and ranked No. 145 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings entering the week.
“Golf’s been very hard recently and today was the opposite of that,” Dunlap said. “… It’s a hard game. Kind of seems like if something can go wrong, it has recently. Just try not to make it personal in a way and just kind of come out here and try to have as much fun as I can. We’re in a pretty cool spot.”
Dunlap hit all 14 fairways in regulation and notched his second round of 61, matching one of his rounds when he won The American Express. He’s the youngest player with multiple PGA Tour rounds of 61 or better since 1983, per the tour.
Valimaki, 27, has yet to win on tour after having some success in Europe. He stood No. 103 in the FedEx Cup Fall race entering the week and would gain a lot from a victory. Players inside the top 100 at the end of the fall season are eligible to retain their tour cards.
“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, so I feel like that gives you a little extra freedom. Of course you want to play here, but just have to play good these last three (events).”
Defending champion Austin Eckroat is likely to miss the cut Friday after opening with a 2-over 74.
–Field Level Media
