Dahmen Leads Corales Puntacana Championship by Four Shots

Joel Dahmen holds a commanding lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship, aiming for a wire-to-wire victory at the site of his only PGA Tour win in 2021. He set a new 36-hole tournament record with a bogey-free 16-under 128, highlighted by a course-record 62 in the opening round, and extended his lead to three strokes after shooting a 71 on Saturday. Dahmen's consistent play, including high fairway and green-in-regulation percentages and strong putting, has kept him ahead of challengers like Michael Thorbjornsen, Chan Kim, and Garrick Higgo. A win would secure him a two-year PGA Tour exemption, providing a significant boost after narrowly retaining his card last year. Other notable performances include Thorbjornsen's career-best 63 and defending 2023 champion Matt Wallace remaining in contention. Dahmen credits his resurgence to a refreshed mindset following a missed cut and time off prior to the tournament.