Top-ranked amateur Nick Dunlap and rising young star Sami Valimaki opened the tournament at El Cardonal at Diamante with blistering rounds of 64. Both players shouldered the incredible 11-under 61, setting the course record. With their stellar starts, both have made this year’s Battle a very competitive and exciting event. They put their golfing skills to the test against more experienced challengers.
Dunlap’s round is a remarkable step in his ongoing story as a professional golfer. Though not currently in the top 100 of the world rankings, he has otherwise full status. That’s due in no small part to his two stunning upset wins last year. His performance on the course demonstrates not only skill but resilience, as he expressed after his round, “Golf’s been very hard recently and today was the opposite of that.”
Valimaki’s achievement came roughly 30 minutes after Dunlap’s opening round. Valimaki is currently ranked No. 103 in the FedEx Cup standings. He is clearly hell bent on being a difference maker and rising in the ranks. He’s had notable success in Switzerland recently, reaching the final there as runner-up. This achievement earned him a European Tour card and showcases his high ceiling to succeed. Valimaki acknowledged the pressures of competition, stating, “It’s not the best pressure, but it’s how it is.”
While Dunlap and Valimaki captured all the headlines, other standouts made their mark. Keefer claimed a sponsors exemption as the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year. He started with a great 66 on the board. Meanwhile, Kris Ventura shot a commendable 64, reflecting his connection to Mexico, as he remarked, “I’m 50% Mexican, so half my life has been over here almost.” Ventura’s backstory makes for an incredibly compelling narrative for the tournament. He’s passionate about using his roots to gain a competitive edge within that space.
Among other competitors, J.J. Spaun, the reigning U.S. Open champion, recorded a 67 in his first tournament since participating in the Ryder Cup. This was no one-man show, as veteran stars Ben Griffin, Francesco Molinari, and Matt Kuchar followed suit with a solid 65 of their own. At 47, Kuchar has a lot of goals, starting with retaining his full card for at least one more year. He’s in that dog fight with the rest of the top 100 players, all competing for full status in 2026 as well.
Vince Whaley’s play has continued to get worse as he leaves himself to be pushed further down the rankings after starting at No. 53. The pressure of the remaining tournaments is palpable, especially for players like Kuchar who need to secure their standings in an increasingly competitive field.
As the tournament continues, we’re surely all watching Dunlap and Valimaki. We applaud them for raising the bar this high, making every other competitor’s job much more difficult to beat. Their performances are shining a spotlight on both their exceptional skills and the hype surrounding this tournament’s move to El Cardonal.
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