After opening with a tournament-record 58 in Four-ball on Thursday, Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo made two bogeys and posted a 3-under 69 in Foursomes to reach 17-under and take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
“Overall really solid,” said Velo. “I think we played really to our strengths today. We both missed a couple short ones that kind of led to our bogeys, but besides that, we played pretty flawless. We feed off each other really easily, and I know how to club off him, and we’re talking through shots out there, so we know exactly what we’re trying to do, and both of our caddies working together, it seems like a really good team.
“We like both [formats],” added Salinda. “I know best ball is obviously where you can take it deep and take it low, but I think the way we play, alternate shot is — I like our chances in alternate shot versus anyone in the field. Yeah, I think tomorrow we just keep playing how we’re playing, set ourselves up for Sunday and give ourselves a shot, and I think alternate shot is kind of our strength.”
This is the first lead/co-lead after any round on Tour for both American rookies. No rookie has won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans since the inception of the team format in 2017.
Salinda is making his 10th start of the season, with a third-place finish at the Mexico Open at VidantaWorld his career-best finish in 20 starts. He earned his Tour membership by finishing No. 18 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List.
Velo is making his 11th start of the season, with two made cuts and a season-best T40 at the Puerto Rico Open. He enters the week with three straight missed cuts. He earned membership by finishing No. 15 on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List.
Salinda entered the week No. 73 in the FedExCup while Velo entered at No. 194.
Salinda (Panama Championship) and Velo (Astara Golf Championship presented by Mastercard) won in back-to-back weeks on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour.
Americans Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin made a single bogey and seven birdies for a 66 and tied for the low round of the day (Nick Taylor/Adam Hadwin, T7/12-under).
Novak is coming off a playoff loss to Justin Thomas at last week’s RBC Heritage, one of three top-three finishes in 13 starts this season (3rd/Farmers Insurance Open, T3/Valero Texas Open).
Griffin owns three top-10s in thirteen starts this season (T4/Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, T4/Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, T7/The American Express).
Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard made one bogey and carded a 70 in Foursomes after carding 59 in Four-ball. They are playing together for the second consecutive year after missing the cut in 2024 and are one of three sets of brothers competing as teams this week. Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick of England just missed the cut at 9-under while Germany’s Jeremy and Yannik Paul finished at 7-under.
Defending champions Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Shane Lowry of Ireland are in T16 at 11-under after bogeying three of their final six holes for a 69.
Format
This is the eighth year the Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be played in a two-man team format. It was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Teams play Four-ball in the first and third rounds, and Foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.
Each player on the winning team will receive 400 FedExCup points, $1,329,400, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour (through 2027) and entry into the three remaining Signature Events.
