Dunlap and Valimaki shot 61, tying the course record and tied for first in Mexico
LOS CABOS, Mexico — Nick Dunlap turned a tough lie into a chip-in for eagle on the final hole Thursday to tie the course record with an 11-under 61, but he was joined about 30 minutes later by Sami Valimaki on a lower-scoring day at the World Skills Championships.
Both are eager to achieve good results, especially Valimaki. The 27-year-old from Finland finished runner-up in Switzerland and fought hard to qualify for the European Tour, but he arrived at Diamante’s Estadio Cardonar in 103rd place in the FedExCup.
Only the top 100 remain intact for 2026, with only three races remaining.
“It’s not the best pressure, but that’s what it is,” Valimaki said. “At least I got my card in Europe, so at least I have something there, so I feel like it gives you a little extra freedom. Of course, you want to play here. Just play well in the last three games.”
He posted a bogey-free score on a picturesque, windless day on the Pacific Coast, allowing players to aim for the target, and it showed in the results. Valimaki shot a bogey-free 61, a course record first set by Carson Young in the second round last year.
Dunlap is well outside the top 100, but still holds the spot intact with two wins from last year, the first of which came while he was in school at Alabama and led to him turning pro. He finished his final six holes at 6 under, including a chip-in for eagle on the par-5 final.
“Golf has been very tough lately and today it was the opposite,” Dunlap said. “I thought I hit every fairway. The fairways here are pretty forgiving for the most part. Gave myself a lot of opportunities with good irons and wedges and rolled really, really well.”
They were ahead of five runners, including Vince Whaley, who continued his steady decline, starting in 100th and finishing in 89th place – some breathing room, but not enough with races remaining in Bermuda and Georgia Coast.
Kris Ventura, also 64, was born in Mexico and moved to his mother’s native Norway when he was 12 years old.
“I’m 50 percent Mexican, so I’ve spent almost half my life here,” Ventura said. “This is where my career started – I started playing for Mexico when I was three years old… and then we moved to Norway.”
Ventura is also aware of recent tournament history — Oklahoma State alumni Austin Eckrott and Victor Hovland are past champions.
“Yeah, I saw pictures of them as past winners while I was dining and I thought it would be cool if I could try it,” Ventura said.
The No. 65 ranking includes Ryder Cup rookie Ben Griffin, former British Open champion Francisco Molinari and 47-year-old Matt Kuchar, who is trying to retain full eligibility for another year.
Johnny Keefer, the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year who received a sponsor’s exemption, opened with a 66. Kiefer, currently ranked 53rd in the world, is expected to end the year in the top 50, thus securing a spot in the Masters.
U.S. Open champion JJ Spaun shot a 67 in his first match since the Ryder Cup.
More than three-quarters of the 120 players at the Tiger Woods-designed resort course on the southern tip of the peninsula, with its wide fairways, broke par, including 20 who shot 66 or better. The best defense is the wind from the sea, but that was missing Thursday.
