Todd Clements just dropped a ridiculous 6-under 66 on Friday, snagging a two-stroke lead in the windy Corales Puntacana Championship! This dude went absolutely nuclear, birdying four of his last six holes to finish the day at 13-under 131 total. Talk about a turnaround!
Clements Is Firing On All Cylinders
This 29-year-old Englishman is looking locked in right now, especially after that 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth. He closed out the day with it, and you just know that felt good. Clements said he “read it well and just went in the right speed so I was delighted to see that one drop,” adding that it was “great day” overall. He also shared that he’s “just going to keep trying to do the same things,” and acknowledges that “golf does some funny things.” You gotta respect that mindset when he’s out there. This is a co-sanctioned event, by the way, with 50 European tour players in the field, all while the British Open is happening. Pretty wild! Clements won the 2023 Czech Masters, which was his only DP World Tour victory, and he even missed the cut last week at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky. So yeah, this hot streak is a seriously welcome sight for him.
The Chase Is On: Who’s Going to Catch Him?
It’s not like Clements is running away with it completely. Ben James, Johannes Veerman, and Gordon Sargent are all tied for second, ready to pounce. James had a 66 on Friday, matching Clements’ score, while Veerman and Sargent each posted 67s. James is only in his fifth professional start, having earned his tour spot through the PGA Tour University ranking as a former Virginia star. He’s keeping it simple, saying for the weekend, it’s “just pretty much just do the same thing, hit it nice and putt it nice. That’s it. Keep it simple.” Sounds like a plan, but can he execute?
Other notable players making moves include Alejandro Del Rey, who’s sitting at 10 under after a 68, and Joe Highsmith, who shot a 67 to get to 9 under. Ivan Cantero Gutierrez, who shared the first-round lead with Clements, dropped to 8 under after a 71, tying him with 19-year-old Blades Brown. Brown, playing as a special temporary member of the PGA Tour, shot a 69. Even U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker is in the mix, tied for 20th at 6 under after a 68. He’s already got an opposite-field win this year in Myrtle Beach from May, so he knows how to close.
This tournament is shaping up for an absolutely wild weekend. Can Clements hold onto this lead after such an insane Friday? Or will James or one of the other guys step up and make a run? Get ready for some serious golf to go down.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply