Joel Dahmen shot a 62 in the opening round of the Corales Puntacana Championship, leading the field with a bogey-free 10-under score. This marks his second appearance at the event, where he seeks to secure his second PGA Tour win and become the first repeat champion. Dahmen's 10 birdies set a tournament record, putting him two strokes ahead of Keith Mitchell, Matt Wallace, and Garrick Higgo.
Having won the championship in 2021, Dahmen expressed his fondness for the location, citing positive vibes upon returning. He credits his motivation to perform well to observing the Masters, which followed his missed cut at the San Antonio event. The remarkable performance by Dahmen and Mitchell, who both tallied 10 birdies, places them among the top players in the current season, with the tournament record only surpassed by Justin Thomas' 11 birdies at the RBC Heritage.