Hoey Seizes Barracuda Lead in Modified Stableford Thriller
Filipino-American edges into Friday’s top spot using high-scoring format
Rico Hoey fired a second consecutive 13-point round to claim a one-point advantage heading into the weekend at the Barracuda Championship. This unique PGA Tour event, held at Tahoe Mountain Club, utilizes a modified Stableford scoring system, rewarding aggressive play.
Navigating the Points System
Under the modified Stableford rules, players earn eight points for a double eagle, five for an eagle, and two for a birdie. Conversely, a bogey results in a one-point deduction, while a double bogey costs three points. The tournament is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and runs opposite the Open Championship.
Hoey’s impressive performance included six birdies and a single bogey on the Old Greenwood course. The layout, situated at 6,000 feet, presents a distinct challenge for competitors.
“I really like the course. I was pretty fortunate to have my first start out here. They gave me a sponsor invite, so it’s something special to me, and hopefully I keep carrying it on.”
—Rico Hoey
Hoey, who is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory in 51 career starts, expressed a sense of familiarity playing in California, where he grew up.
“I just feel like I’m at home. It’s California. Grew up in California. I love this event. It’s always fun doing like a point system so you feel like you want to go make a lot of birdies.”
—Rico Hoey
Chasing Pack Pushes Hard
Tied for second place, just one point behind Hoey, are Max McGreevy and South Africa’s Erik Van Rooyen, the 2021 champion. McGreevy posted a 16-point effort on Friday, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 third hole.
“Just plotting along, getting a lot of good looks. Got some to go early today, which just freed me up and allowed me to be a little bit more aggressive I think in some spots.”
—Max McGreevy
Van Rooyen carded 14 points during his morning round, sinking four birdies over his final six holes on each nine. He commented on his putting performance, noting it has been a challenging aspect of his season.
“Finally making some putts. It’s been a trying season in that regard.”
—Erik Van Rooyen
Notable Movements and Missed Cuts
Tom Vaillant of France sits in fourth place with 23 points. Following closely behind with 22 points are Isaiiah Salinda, Joel Dahmen, Vince Whaley, Ryan Gerard, and Jackson Suber.
Ben Martin, the first-round leader, dropped significantly, posting a zero-point round and falling 10 points off the pace. Meanwhile, Max Homa managed to make the cut with a 14-point day, bringing his total to 13 points. His playing partners, defending champion Nick Dunlap and NCAA champion Michael La Sasso of Ole Miss, did not advance. Dunlap eagled his final hole for one point, while La Sasso lost nine points over the two days.
German twins Yannik and Jeremy Paul also failed to make the weekend play.
The Barracuda Championship offers a PGA Championship spot to its winner, though not an invitation to the Masters. In professional golf, winning on tour is a significant career milestone; for instance, the average number of starts before a first PGA Tour win has varied historically, but securing a victory is often a key driver for players like Hoey. A recent study indicated that for players turning professional in recent years, the path to their first PGA Tour win averages around 50-70 starts, highlighting Hoey’s current standing.
