Young Davis Riley leads Valspar Championship after sensational 62

One day after the University of Alabama men’s basketball team was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, not one, but two former alum are in contention at the 2022 Valspar Championship. Justin Thomas, one of the school’s most notable alum, certainly in golf, finds himself just three shots off the lead going into Sunday.

That lead is held by another member of the crimson tide, Davis Riley, who produced an electrifying 62 on moving day to take the outright lead at 18 under par into Sunday.

Young Davis Riley now has the chance to earn his first PGA Tour win in his first year as a full-time PGA professional. He won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020 and through thirteen starts on the PGA’s 2021-22 season has made the cut in seven of those thirteen starts. His best finish before this week at the Valspar Championship was a T7th back at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at the end of October last year.

While his name might not yet be known by the majority of the general public, the Mississippi native had a heralded collegiate career at Alabama before playing on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019. Davis Riley finished his Junior season in 2017-18 as the nation’s top-ranked collegiate golfer and in 2015 he qualified for the U.S. Open. He also was a member of the United States Junior Ryder Cup team that same season.

Davis Riley carded nine birdies on Saturday at the Valspar Championship during his electric round.

Riley produced his magical round alongside playing partner Justin Thomas on Saturday and the two crimson tide golfers put on a show.

“it was super exciting. It was, obviously just beginning of the day I was excited to play with Justin. He’s a good friend of mine. We’ve kept in touch. And obviously he’s a one of the best players in the world so, anytime can you do that, and I played with him, and playing with him was really fun,” Riley remarked after finishing his round.

One of the highlights of his round came on the 9th whole as he hit his bunker shot directly in the hole.

It was a unique ‘March Madness’ moment for Davis Riley as he dunked his shot straight into the cup. “I just really tried to make sure I hit enough on it and maybe I got a little too much of it. But, yeah, for it to slam dunk it was crazy,” he said.

Riley will carry a two-shot lead over Matthew NeSmith, and a three-shot lead over Thomas into the final round at the Valspar Championship.  It would be a huge win so early in his PGA career if Davis can close things out on Sunday, he certainly has the pedigree to do so. Regardless of how this week finishes for Davis Riley, one thing is certain, his name will be known by all going forward as he has a promising career ahead of him.