Ricky Castillo in four-way tie for third as Puerto Rico Open tightens
Friday at 12: 05 p. m. ET, ricky castillo was listed in a four-way tie for third at 8-under par after two rounds of the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. The timing matters because the field is set for the weekend after the cut, and the leaderboard has compressed behind leader Chandler Blanchet at 13-under.
Ricky Castillo holds position with three others behind Chandler Blanchet
Through 36 holes, Chandler Blanchet led at 13-under, while Gordon Sargent stood second at 9-under. ricky castillo shared third place at 8-under with Jesper Svensson, Blades Brown and Jeremy Paul, creating a tight cluster positioned to apply pressure as play moves into Round 3.
Amateur John Daly II, a University of Arkansas senior, also stayed in the mix after making the cut as the low amateur. Daly was tied for seventh at 7-under 137 (70-67) after a bogey-free 67 (5-under) on Friday.
John Daly II’s sponsor’s exemption turns into a weekend tee time
Daly entered the Puerto Rico Open on a sponsor’s exemption and turned it into a weekend start by producing two steady rounds highlighted by his second-round 67. Daly is scheduled to begin Round 3 at 12: 00 p. m. ET alongside Beau Hossler.
Afterward, Daly said in remarks carried by his school that making it to the weekend was “awesome, ” adding that the course has long been a favorite for him from visits to watch his father play. He also described his approach as trying to go as low as possible, saying he had “nothing to lose” and wanted to keep having fun while sticking with what has worked.
Grand Reserve Golf Club rounds put Daly II within reach of leaders
Daly’s first round unfolded with an early birdie on Hole 1, followed by eight straight pars to reach the turn at 1-under. He then dropped a shot on 10, answered with two birdies, gave one back with a bogey on 15, and closed with a birdie to card a 2-under 70.
Friday’s bogey-free 67 started on Hole 10 with four opening pars. He birdied the par-5 14th after reaching the green in three shots, then added another birdie on the par-4 18th after finding the green from the intermediate rough with his second shot. Daly also saved par from bunkers on both par-3 holes 15 and 17.
On the back nine, Daly birdied the par-4 3rd to move to 3-under for the round, saved par from a bunker on the par-4 5th, and picked up another birdie on 6 after receiving a drop off a sprinkler head. He finished with a birdie on 8 and a par on 9 to complete the 67.
The next confirmed milestone comes with the start of Round 3 at 12: 00 p. m. ET. If the players clustered at 8-under—including ricky castillo—post early numbers, the gap to Blanchet could narrow quickly as the weekend begins.
