20-year-old SA prodigy Aldrich Potgieter shoots 61 to seize Mexico Open lead

The prodigious 20-year-old talent from Pretoria, competing in just his 10th PGA Tour event, recorded 10 birdies without a single bogey, reaching 16-under 126 after 36 holes at the VidantaWorld resort near Puerto Vallarta.

"Really happy with today," said Potgieter, who is being tipped for big things in the world of golf. "Started off really good with five birdies in a row on the front nine and that helped a lot to get momentum. Made a really good chip-in for par on 10 to keep the momentum going."

The PGA Tour rookie, who won The Amateur Championship in 2022 at Royal Lytham, could become the fifth-youngest PGA Tour winner since 1983 if he secures the title.

Potgieter, who previously carded a 59 in a Korn Ferry developmental tour event last year, is now the fourth-youngest player since 1983 to shoot a 61 or lower on the PGA Tour. He is also the longest hitter on the PGA Tour.

He had an opportunity to shoot another 59 but could only make par on the par-5 14th and 18th holes, though he also made some crucial par saves throughout his round to keep the momentum going.

"I made a lot of extra birdies throughout the day where that wasn't going to hurt me," he said. "I was still missing in the right spots even though I wasn't in the fairway all the time.

"The recovery shots were really good and I was really happy with that, but the flat stick was working so I was having a lot of saves out there that kept me going."

Germany's Stephan Jaeger is tied for second at 130 alongside American Brian Campbell. Campbell, like Potgieter, is also chasing his first PGA Tour title.

England's Aaron Rai sits in fourth place with a score of 131.

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