VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) – Karl Vilips used two long birdie streaks to take the first-round lead Thursday in the VidantaWorld Mexico Open, the first of two straight PGA Tour events in the country.

Vilips shot a 9-under 62 in the afternoon round on the Vidanta Vallarta layout, making five straight birdies on Nos. 11-15 on his opening nine and finishing with four in a row. In between, he had another birdie and a bogey.

The 25-year-old Australian pointed to his driver.

Karl Vilips hits 151-yard bunker shot, sets up birdie on No. 9 at Mexico Open

Kensei Hirata of Japan was a stroke back, and Ben Griffin was at 64 with Marco Penge, Garrick Higgo and Jeffrey Kang.

Alvaro Ortiz of Mexico opened with a 65. He earned his PGA Tour card for next year through the Korn Ferry Tour.

“It was lovely,” Ortiz said. “Bogey-free, played really solid. I felt like I was just flowing the whole day. Gave myself a lot of chances. I think I did very well from tee to green, which makes it very nice on this golf course.”

Ortiz won the event in 2021 when it was part of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica schedule.

Alvaro Ortiz drains 10-foot putt for birdie on No. 13 at Mexico Open

The World Wide Technology Championship is next week at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos.

Vilips won the 2025 Puerto Rico Open for his lone PGA Tour title, making him exempt on Tour through next season. The former Stanford player is 141st in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, with many players fighting to get into the top 100 to remain on the tour.

Hirata is trying to move up from 170th. He made a 20-foot eagle putt on No. 3 and holed two birdie putts outside 20 feet.

“It was a perfect 7-wood distance and hit a perfect 7-wood shot, which left me a really easy left to righter," Hirata said about the eagle. “Then that went in and kept the momentum going the rest of the back nine.”

Penge is 112th in the standings. He had an 18-foot eagle putt on No. 3.

“I feel like I haven’t actually played that much this year,” Penge said. “I’ve only played 18 tournaments due to, obviously, health issues. I’m just trying to get back fit, really.”

Marco Penge's 149-yard approach sets up birdie on No. 18 at Mexico Open

Defending champion Brian Campbell shot a 67.

Reigning U.S. Open champion and world No. 5 Wyndham Clark had a 69.

John Daly II, the son of the two-time major champion, opened with a 70. He's playing on a sponsor exemption.