Cantero Grabs Early Lead at Genesis Championship
Ivan Cantero made a strong start at the Genesis Championship, carding an opening-round 66 to secure a one-shot lead at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea. With his DP World Tour status for 2025 on the line, the Spaniard delivered a crucial performance in this final event of the Back 9 series. Only the top 114 players after this tournament will retain their Tour cards, and Cantero, who began the week in 117th place, knows that every shot counts.
The World No. 454 set the early pace by sinking seven birdies and offsetting just one bogey, finishing the day at six-under-par. His opening round demonstrated precision and composure, especially when he landed an approach to within three feet on the first hole, immediately moving into red numbers.
Cantero continued to build momentum, capitalizing on the par-five third to reach two-under through three holes. Back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh helped him reach five-under by the ninth, completing the front nine in just 31 strokes. He kept the pressure on with an 11-foot birdie putt at the tenth, taking him to six-under.
Though he stumbled with a bogey on the 16th, Cantero rebounded by landing his tee shot within six feet on the par-three 17th, ensuring he finished the day tied for the clubhouse lead.
“I need a strong week, or I’ll miss out on the main Tour,” Cantero said, reflecting on the importance of the tournament. “Today, everything clicked – I hit my drivers well, and when you’re in good positions here, the scoring opportunities come. The difference today was my putting. The past few weeks, I struggled with missed putts, and it really hurt my confidence. But today, the putts dropped, and I feel good again.”
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He also credited fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal for his support during the round, saying that playing alongside him provided helpful advice and a sense of ease.
A tight field sits just one shot behind Cantero at five-under, including South Korea’s Byeong Hun An and Hongtaek Kim, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, South Africa’s Casey Jarvis, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, and England’s Richard Mansell.
A further group of ten players finished at four-under, featuring defending champion Pablo Larrazábal, Spaniards Alejandro Del Rey and Manuel Elvira, and notable names like Korea’s Tom Kim and Seunghyuk Kim, New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, Italy’s Renato Paratore, and England’s Todd Clements.
Play was suspended late in the day, leaving six players, including Jonas Blixt, yet to complete their first rounds. With the stakes high and the field tightly packed, the competition promises an exciting finish as Cantero and others battle to secure their future on the DP World Tour.
