| First Round Notebook |
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Courtesy of John Bush
PGA TOUR Staff
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, México - Joe Durant recorded a 7-under 64 to take the first-round lead at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun, taking a one-stroke lead over Cameron Beckman, Briny Baird, Jarrod Lyle and J.P. Hayes.
- Durant is making just his second start of the season (T48 at Bob Hope Classic) and his third start at the Mayakoba Golf Classic (finishing T12 in 2008 and T28 in 2009).
- Durant has held a share of the 18-hole lead five previous times in his career, with a T2 at the 2001 Shell Houston Open his best eventual finish. This is his first outright first-round lead.
- Hayes is making his fourth start of 2010, with two made cuts and a season-best T5 at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. This is his second start at the Mayakoba Golf Classic (T65 in 2009).
- Several minutes after caddying for Richard S. Johnson (68) in the morning wave, Lance Ten Broeck (76) teed it up after gaining entry in the field from the alternate list. It was his 355th start on TOUR, but he later withdrew following the round and will stick to caddying duties on Friday.
- Jarrod Lyle, making his first TOUR start of 2010, opened with a 6-under 65. He posted a career-best T6 at the 2009 Mayakoba Golf Classic. Lyle recently finished T4 at the Nationwide Tour's Moonah Classic.
- Hispanic-player leaderboard: Alejandro Canizares (2-under 69), Jorge Campillo (1-under 70), Carlos Franco (even-par 71), Jose Trauwitz (1-over 72), Esteban Toledo (3-over 74), Pablo Martin (4-over 75), Santiago Luna (4-over 75), Pedro Oriol (5-over 76), Alejandro Quiroz (7-over 78) and Guillermo Davila (13-over 84).
- One week after finishing T2 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, David Duval posted an even-par 71 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. The 13-time PGA TOUR winner is making his first start at El Camaleón.
- Defending champion Mark Wilson, the only past champion participating this week, opened with an even-par 71. Wilson has one top-20 finish this season in five starts (T20 at the Sony Open in Hawaii). He is currently No. 70 on the FedExCup points list.
- Charles Howell III (68) recorded a hole-in-one on the 116-yard seventh hole, the first ace in the four-year history of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. It is the sixth ace of the season on TOUR.
- Monday Qualifier and two-time heart-transplant recipient Erik Compton posted a 4-under 67 in his 18th-career PGA TOUR start.
- Bogey-free rounds on Thursday: Joe Durant (64), Briny Baird (65), Thomas Levet (66).
- The par-4 18th hole played the most difficult at 4.354. The par-5 13th hole played the easiest at 4.462.
- WD's prior to the start of the first round: Chris DiMarco (illness), John Huston and Notah Begay III.
| Scoring Averages at the par-71 El Camaleón Golf Club |
| Round | Front 9 | Back 9 | Total Cumulative |
| Thursday | 35.331 | 35.315 | 70.646 |
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| Media Contacts |
The Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancún is dedicated to assisting the media in covering this historic event. For more information on press releases, press conferences or attending the event, please contact the Mayakoba Golf Classic's media director: Lee Patterson.
Lee Patterson
Media Director
Greg Norman Production Company
(704) 553-4790
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About Mayakoba |
| Mayakoba is situated just south of Cancun on Mexico’s prized Caribbean coast – the Riviera Maya. A mere 40-minute drive from the towering hotels of Cancun visitors will discover a completely different experience. Here, nestled in a lush natural paradise, lies Mayakoba, a truly unique resort destination. Mayakoba is comprised of five luxury hotels, each featuring a range of culinary and spa experiences. An 18 hole Greg Norman championship golf course, El Camaleón, managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, offers players an ever-changing terrain that moves gracefully from mangroves to the sea. Created to harmonize with the unspoiled tropical forest, Mayakoba is connected with a series of lagoons enabling guests to wander effortlessly from place to place through the resort using the “lanchas” (covered boats) as well as a network of trails. Mayakoba, a luxury destination like no other where you are immersed in unspoiled natural beauty and the mysteries of an ancient civilization. |
| About OHL |
| Based in Madrid, OHL has over 20,000 employees and an impressive average yearly growth rate of 16.6% since 2002. In 2008, its net sales amounted to over 4 billion Euros. At the same time, OHL is strongly committed to environmental responsibility and in 2003 produced its first Sustainable Development Report. As Juan-Miguel Villar Mir, the chairman of the board of directors and the author of the report, noted, mindful attention to the long-term health of the environment creates a "virtuous circle" that benefits the company, its clients and the globe. OHL's ecological diligence has served it well in México, where strong government regulations are enforced to protect the environment. A presence in México since 1980, OHL employs over 2,000 people there and has built highways, bridges, hotels and hospitals. The tourism complex at Mayakoba, which will eventually include two or three golf courses and six luxury hotels, is OHL's most ambitious hospitality project to date. |
| About Greg Norman Production Company |
| The Greg Norman Production Company (GNPC), a subsidiary of Great White Shark Enterprises, is devoted to event management and sports marketing. In addition to the PGA TOUR's Mayakoba Golf Classic, the GNPC operates the PGA TOUR-sanctioned The Shark Shootout. The GNPC prides itself on producing events and marketing initiatives that not only reflect the discerning standards of its namesake, but of its clients as well. Through its myriad relationships within golf, media and event industries, the GNPC is fully capable of providing its clients with a wide spectrum of services that will seamlessly build brand equity and generate a unique marketing and or hospitality medium. Please contact us to coordinate your specialty event. |
| About El Camaleón Golf Club |
| El Camaleón Golf Course at the Mayakoba resort is Greg Norman's latest masterwork. The 7,039-yard layout is unique - not just to Mexico but to the entire world of golf. The course bends through three distinct landscapes—mangrove jungles, limestone canals and stunning, oceanfront stretches of sand. El Camaleón incorporates a cenote, a massive underground cavern, into the heart of the opening fairway. The handsome, Mayan influenced clubhouse that rises above the 18th green will feature a fine dining room with stunning views over the course. The adjoining practice facility and driving range are of international caliber. With Mayakoba's unique system of lagoons, golfers will be able to step out of their rooms and into a boat, which will ferry them directly to the first tee. El Camaleón Golf Course is managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. |
| About Golf PARa Todos |
| Golf FORE Everyone aims to create a fun-filled, diverse and educational program that teaches about the game of golf and its ideals. The program encourages active participation in the game as a participant and as a fan, and facilitates the integration of golf into the lives of all those within the community. Golf PARa Todos is a community program presented and created by the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
The inaugural installment of Golf PARa Todos was held in October 2007 at El Camaleón Golf Club in Playa del Carmen. A monthly program, Golf PARa Todos is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of golf skill or knowledge. For more information, visit www.GolfParaTodos.org.
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| Weather at Mayakoba |
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| Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic |
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| The American Junior Golf Association descends annually upon Playa del Carmen for the Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic. After two short years, the event has established itself as a premier event in Mexican junior golf. |
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Schedule of Events |
Wed | Pro-Am Competition |
Thu | First Round* |
Fri | Second Round* |
Sat | Third Round* |
Sun | Final Round* |
*Broadcast: GOLF CHANNEL |
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