Matti Schmid fires a bogey-free 64 to kick off the PGA Tour’s World Wide Technology Championship. Other Germans also impress.
Matti Schmid delivered a stellar performance on Thursday afternoon at the World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour. Playing at El Cardonal Golf Course in Mexico, the German golfer carded a flawless 8-under-par round. Fellow Germans Thomas Rosenmüller (68) and Jeremy Paul (69) also posted solid rounds, while Stephan Jäger stayed in contention with a 71. At the top of the leaderboard, American Nick Dunlap and Finland’s Sami Valimaki both shot 61 to tie the course record. Schmid sits in a five-way tie just behind the leaders. However, final standings for the day remain pending as the last two groups were unable to finish due to darkness and will resume play Friday morning.
Matti Schmid starts strong at World Wide Technology Championship
Schmid wasted no time making his mark, beginning on the par-5 1st hole with a solid drive and reaching the green in two. Two putts later, he had his first birdie. He added another on the difficult 4th and one more on the 6th, going 3-under on the front nine without a single blemish. The back nine proved even better. After pars on 10 and 11, Schmid birdied the 12th and rode the momentum with three more birdies on the next three holes. He capped off his round with a final birdie on the 18th, finishing with a sensational 64 (-8)—his second-best round of the season and best since May. Currently tied for third, Schmid is in a strong position heading into the weekend.
Thomas Rosenmüller also impressed in his PGA Tour debut. Starting on the back nine, he birdied the 10th and 14th, overcame a bogey on 15, and added another birdie on 18. He played the front nine at even par and closed with a birdie to finish at 68 (-4).
Jeremy Paul had a similar day. After a birdie on 13 and a bogey on 14, he birdied 18 to make the turn at 1-under. He added birdies on the 1st and 6th holes and avoided further mistakes to post a 69 (-3).
Stephan Jäger had a slower start with a bogey on 14 but bounced back with birdies on 17 and 18. He added another birdie and bogey on the front nine to finish at 71 (-1).
Course record tied as darkness halts play
Nick Dunlap and Sami Valimaki both delivered dream rounds, shooting 61 (-11) to tie the course record. Dunlap, 21, highlighted his round with a chip-in eagle on the 18th. “Everything worked today,” he said. “I think I hit every fairway and gave myself a lot of chances to attack the pins.” Conditions in Mexico were ideal, with little wind and smooth greens.
Due to fading light