Rico Hoey extended his lead in the Barracuda Championship. He earned his place there after shooting 13 points for the second consecutive day on Friday. The tournament is currently underway over at Tahoe Mountain Club’s stunning Old Greenwood course. It includes the unusual modified Stableford scoring system and is played at an altitude of 6,000 feet.
Returning in the afternoon, Hoey’s class really shone through as he made six birdies and only one bogey on his way to a strong 67. He closed strong by birdieing four of the last six holes — back and front sides. This stunning performance has propelled him into a solid position as he enters the homestretch of this hotly contested competition. Even with this success, Hoey is still winless in his 51 career starts on the PGA Tour.
Hoey, who was born in the Philippines and raised in California, marveled about his personal journey to the course. He expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I really like the course. I just feel like I’m at home.” Much of his high comfort level was evident in his time on the field as well. He said that making a few early birdies freed him up to be more aggressive.
There’s no other PGA Tour event quite like the Barracuda Championship, which is the only PGA Tour event to use the modified Stableford scoring system. Rather, this format magnifies the players who make the most birdies and eagles, promoting a highly aggressive style of play. Hoey harnessed this unusual scoring format to vault himself to the top of the leaderboard.
As he battles through the ups and downs of the tournament, Hoey now just needs to keep that momentum rolling. He acknowledged the significance of his participation, sharing, “I was pretty fortunate to have my first start out here. They gave me a sponsor invite, so it’s something special to me and hopefully I keep carrying it on.”
Other competitors in the tournament, including Max McGreevy, showcased strong performances, with McGreevy commenting on his strategy: “Just plotting along, getting a lot of good looks.”
As the weekend nears, the eyes of fans and fellow competitors alike are riveted on her. Observers will be looking to see if Hoey can convert his lead into a widely-expected breakthrough victory.
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