Tag: 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship

Matt Wallace wins 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship for first PGA Tour win

The win is Wallace’s first on the PGA Tour.

Last week Matt Wallace made some headlines after a spat with his caddie. This week he’s back in the headlines once again, but as a PGA Tour winner.

The 32-year-old Englishman shot a 6-under 66 in Sunday’s final round to claim the 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship at 19 under for his first win on Tour in his 80th start. Wallace has won four times on the DP World Tour, most recently in 2018 at the Made in Denmark.

Nicolai Hojgaard needed a birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff but came up short with par to finish solo second at 18 under. Tyler Duncan and Sam Stevens finished T-3 at 17 under, with Austin Eckroat rounding out the top five at 16 under.

“Self talk was very good today, been working really hard since the Players on it,” said Wallace, who has made light of his history as an Angry Golfer. “I realized at the Players out of the 145 shots I hit to miss the cut by one, two of those I spoke to myself well. Two shots for the whole week, so that’s not good enough. That’s not going to get the job done.”

You know what does get the job done? Four rounds under par – 67-66-70-66 – as well as four birdies over his last six holes on Sunday.

“Very happy down those last few holes,” said Wallace. “I knew I could do it and I played great all week, just came out on top.”

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Nicolai Hojgaard, Sam Stevens lead 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship heading into the final round

Catch up on the action from the Corales Puntacana Championship.

While four of the best players in the world are set to battle it out Sunday at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Nicolai Hojgaard and Sam Stevens are leading the 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship at Puntacana Resort and Club in the Dominican Republic at 14 under.

Hojgaard signed for a third-round bogey-free 6-under 66 on Saturday while Stevens followed up his Friday 65 with a 4-under 68 on Day 3. Stevens missed a short putt at the last that would’ve given him the outright lead.

Thomas Detry, Wyndham Clark, Tyler Duncan and Matt Wallace are tied for third and one shot behind the leaders. Wallace tied for seventh last week at the Valspar Championship.

Corales: Leaderboard

Martin Trainer, Austin Eckroat and Ricky Barnes sit at 12 under, two back, while Brice Grant rounds out the top 10 at 10 under, four back.

For Hojgaard, who turned 22 two weeks ago, a victory would make him eligible for PGA Tour membership, while Stevens is vying to become the second rookie to win this season.

The 54-hole leader/co-leader has won three of the last five events at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

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This PGA Tour pro’s driver head flew off after hitting a tee shot at Corales Puntacana Championship

The best part? Duncan went on to make a birdie.

Although many of the world’s best players are in Texas for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club, an opposite-field event is also underway in the Dominican Republic.

During the second round of the Corales Puntacana Championship at Puntacana Resort and Club, Tyler Duncan stepped up to his tee shot on the par-4 15th. As soon as he made contact with the golf ball, his driver head flew off the shaft, leaving him holding a headless big stick.

The best part? He’d go on to birdie the hole.

Duncan signed for a second-round 7-under 65 and was tied for fourth.

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This PGA Tour pro is off to another strong start at the Corales Puntacana Championship, where he won in 2018

Brice Garnett views this week more like a vacation rather than a golf tournament. 

Brice Garnett views this week more like a vacation rather than a golf tournament.

How could he not at Puntacana Resort & Club? There’s food everywhere surrounding the resort. There’s beautiful views at the Corales Golf Course. And it’s a trip to the Dominican Republic, where Garnett has his only PGA Tour win back in 2018.

“Yeah, it’s just so easy. I feel like it’s an easy week,” Garnett said. “It’s kind of how I approach the weeks outside the (U.S.). I’ve had quite a bit of success really playing island golf.”

After an opening 6-under 66 in gusty conditions, it’s hard to argue against his case. Garnett tied for the lead with Ben Martin and one shot in front of Matt Wallace after the opening round at the Corales Puntacana Championship, this week’s opposite-field event.

A month ago at the Honda Classic, Garnett was in contention before a closing 77 at PGA National. A week later, he once again shot 77 in the final round at the Puerto Rico Open.

“Just waiting and patiently hoping that we can get all four days together here before long,” he said. “So just kind of keeping our nose down and keep on grinding. We know it will all come together eventually.”

Martin joined Garnett with a bogey-free performance. Martin also has one PGA Tour win, coming at the 2014 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

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This PGA Tour journeyman says he’s down 40-plus pounds and ready to roll at the Corales Puntacana Championship

“All the hard work I’ve put in the last five months will give me results. I don’t know when, but I know they will.”

Rafael Campos hasn’t played much on the PGA Tour over the past two seasons. However, with many of the game’s best players in Austin, Texas, for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Campos got a spot in the opposite-field event, the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic.

On Tuesday, Campos opened up about recent changes he has made to his team and how he prepares himself now compared to just a few months ago.

“Yeah, I’ve lost approximately 40, 45 pounds in the last five months or so,” he said when meeting with the media at the Puntacana Resort and Club. “Came about just because last year was a really bad year, inconsistent year, injuries were really bad the middle of the year. I’ve battled with this and through this for the last four years and I just had enough, to tell you the truth, I really did.”

Rafael Campos of Puerto Rico plays his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club on February 25, 2021 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

“I’m just really upset sometimes when I think about it that I waited so long to make this type of change. Five months ago I set up a great team — everything, nutritionist, chiropractor, trainer, manager. Just put a brand new team together, start from zero and we’re doing a great job.”

Although he’s frustrated he waited so long to make the changes, Campos understands the results will come with perseverance.

“I can’t say how grateful I am for the team that I’ve put together,” he said. “And we’re nonstop working, to tell you the truth, and it feels great. I did it just to avoid injuries. The positive is we’re losing weight, we’re learning how to eat. It’s a lot easier than what people think, to tell the truth. I basically eat everything I want right now, I just have to make sure that I snack a lot throughout the day.

Rafael Campos of Puerto Rico hits his first shot on the 1st hole during the second round of the Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club on March 03, 2023 in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

“I just feel great, I really do. I think all these — all the hard work I’ve put in the last five months will give me results. I don’t know when, but I know they will. I’m just doing things right and I’m just pretty upset that I waited too long to make this type of change. But the way I feel right now is great and I can — my mental state is a lot better, healthier right now.”

Campos tied for 48th at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this month. At last season’s Puntacana Championship, he finished T-28.

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