VALLARTA, Mexico: Alvaro Ortiz fired a 7-under-par 64 to move into a tie for the lead at his national open, the Mexico Open at Vidanta, on Friday in Vallarta, Mexico.
Ortiz is tied with Jake Knapp, England's Matt Wallace and Finland's Sami Valimaki at 11-under 131 at the par-71 Vidanta Vallarta. Knapp also posted a 64, Wallace a 65 and Valimaki a 67 in the second round. They are one shot ahead of first-round leader Erik van Rooyen of South Africa (69 on Friday).
Ortiz, 28, won the Mexico Open in 2021, the final year before the PGA Tour put the tournament on its schedule. He sits at No. 669 in the Official World Golf Ranking but picked up a pair of victories on Mexico's professional golf tour last year.
"I think I closed very strong the Latin America season and then playing very well in the Mexican Tour and that carried over, that momentum, to Q-School," Ortiz said.
"Been playing really well. Just excited to get this opportunity."
He began his Friday round on the back nine and birdied Nos. 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.
The highlight came at the par-5 sixth hole, when his downhill, right-to-left eagle putt dropped from 30 feet away. Ortiz drove all 13 fairways in regulation.
"I think definitely the ball-striking, it was very solid from tee to green," Ortiz said.
"I actually putted very well. Didn't make as many putts as yesterday, but definitely feel very solid out there. Just very comfortable. And I've been working really hard on my swing this past year and it's good to see the hard work's paying off."
Ortiz said he doesn't feel more pressure playing on home soil.
"No, it's more fun, it's more fun," he said. "I don't get to do (it) that often. As many people, the yelling, it's fun. I don't get that much in the States, but it's pretty cool to see how many people are coming and hopefully it will be packed this weekend."
Like Ortiz, Knapp stayed bogey-free on Friday, sinking seven birdies. He tied for third at the Farmers Insurance Open last month.
"I drove it really well again and then struck the ball really, really well," Knapp said.
"Didn't have my best day on the greens, but struck the ball really well, gave myself a ton of chances. Was pretty stress-free for the most part."
Valimaki had three bogeys eat into his seven birdies, while Wallace used a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch at Nos. 5-7 late in his round to make his move.
"I was beating it with three holes to go today, but I just changed that into I need to beat the course with the last three," Wallace said. "I birdied 7 and parred 8 and 9, which are two really strong holes. They were my scores, that's what I achieved and it kept me focused."
Mark Hubbard shot a 65 to move into a tie for sixth with Andrew Novak (68) at 8 under. Chan Kim (69) is in eighth at 7 under.
Defending champion Tony Finau shot a 67 to join a massive group in ninth. Nineteen players are tied at 6 under through 36 holes.
The cut line fell at 2 under par. Charley Hoffman (even par), South Koreans K.H. Lee and S.H. Kim (1 over) and Italy's Francesco Molinari (2 over) were among the notable players to miss the cut. --REUTERS-Field Level Media
