Ortiz shoots 7-under, shares lead at Mexico Open
VALLARTA, Mexico — Alvaro Ortiz got off to a strong start and did just enough right at the end for a 7under 64, giving him a share of the lead Friday in the Mexico Open as he goes for yet another victory in his home country.
This would be the biggest of all for Ortiz, who won twice on the Mexican Golf Tour at the end of last year. Ortiz is the younger brother of Carlos Ortiz, a PGA Tour winner who signed with Saudi-funded LIV Golf.
Ortiz was at 11-under 131 at breezy Vallarta Vidanta, tied with Jake Knapp, Matt Wallace of England and Sami Valimaki of Finland. Ortiz had a 64 of his own late in the afternoon, Wallace shot 65 and Valimaki had a 67.
Ortiz, who grew up in Guadalajara, has been trying to find his way since leaving Arkansas. He already has played in the Masters as the 2019 Latin America Amateur champion, and he qualified for the U.S. Open in 2021 at Torrey Pines.
He is back on the Korn Ferry Tour this year after splitting time last year on the Asian Tour, Mexican Golf Tour and Tour Americas.
“The more I play, the more comfortable I feel and I start to realize that I have the game,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been doing good work and (trying to) put four rounds together. Hopefully, I can do that this weekend.”
DP World Tour: At Nairobi, Kenya, Dutch golfer Darius Van Driel held a share of a three-way lead of the Kenya Open after the second round.
Van Driel, the overnight leader, went 2-under 69 after his opening round 66.
He was joined at 7 under overall by Scotland’s Connor Syme and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen after both carded 68s.
LPGA: At Chonburi, Thailand, former Women’s PGA Championship winner Sei Young Kim moved from second place into a three-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the LPGA Thailand tournamen.
After sailing through the first 11 holes with four birdies and an eagle, Kim had two bogeys on Nos. 13 and 17 to finish with a 4-under 68.
“I think I lost my focus when I was putting, so I missed the short putt, especially 17. I have to forget about it,” Kim said.