Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes one back at Coraeles Puntacana Championship

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Todd Clements of England and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez of Spain each shot 7-under 65 on Thursday at breezy Puntacana Resort to share the first-round lead in the Corales Puntacana Championship. Clements and Gutierrez are two of...

PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic — Todd Clements of England and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez of Spain each shot 7-under 65 on Thursday at breezy Puntacana Resort to share the first-round lead in the Corales Puntacana Championship. Clements and Gutierrez are two of 50 DP World Tour players in the field for the co-sanctioned event played opposite the Open Championship. They both missed the cut last week in Kentucky in the ISCO Championship.

“I just think the whole place is just an enjoyable place to be,” Clements said. “Turned up and it’s a relaxing environment. Just get to enjoy myself and I kind of felt like it came out in my golf today.”

On a day when wind gusted to 22 mph on the Corales layout, Clements had nine birdies and two bogeys, dropping a late stroke on the par-3 17th in the morning session. He won the 2023 Czech Masters for his lone DP World Tour victory. “I’m actually delighted with how I played today,” Clements said.

“A few tweaks I’m going to try and solve this afternoon, but for the main part I was absolutely delighted and looking forward to tomorrow and what that brings.” Austin Eckroat was a stroke back with Alejandro Del Rey, Johannes Veerman, Canada's Mackenzie Hughes, Jonathan Byrd and Gordon Sargent. Hughes, from Hamilton, tied for second at this event in 2019 and was third in 2021 in his only previous appearances at the tournament.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Eckroat tied for 30th Sunday in the Scottish Open. “We were over in Scotland last week and trying to qualify for the British Open, but when we saw we were going to be here, we said, `Well, someone’s got to win it,'” Eckroat said. “Huge going into the rest of the season.

A lot of points available, good momentum.” Blades Brown had a 67. He got in the field as a special temporary member.

U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker shot 70. He won an opposite-field event in Myrtle Beach in May. Defending champion Garrick Higgo had a 72.

Sangmoon Bae opened with a 77. Playing on a sponsor exemption. he’s trying to get back on track since his mandatory military service in South Korea a decade ago.