Ryan Grider wins season-opening 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro in playoff

CORDOBA, Argentina – Ryan Grider emerged victorious at the season-opening 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich, securing his first career win in his PGA TOUR Americas debut. Grider prevailed over Joey Vrzich in a sudden-death playoff, sealing the title with a clutch birdie on the first extra hole. With the win, Grider becomes No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup and secures exempt membership on PGA TOUR Americas for the remainder of the 2025 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2026.

The 26-year-old claimed his first victory in his 12th career start in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event. Previously, Grider competed in eight PGA TOUR Canada events across the 2021 and 2023 seasons and made three appearances on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022 and 2023. Prior to the win, Grider had made three cuts in 11 starts, with a career-best finish being T25 at the 2023 Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited on PGA TOUR Canada.

Grider entered the week as a conditional member via finishing T22 at Second Stage of 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry (next 10 finishers after the qualifiers). The Baylor alum remained inside the top three following each round and was five strokes behind 54-hole leader J.M. Butler heading into Sunday. A final-round, 2-under 69, featuring two birdies in his last three holes, was enough to force a playoff with fourth-year professional Vrzich, who was also seeking his first career victory.

This was the first playoff since the 2024 Bupa Championship at Tulum, which served as the season opener and the debut of PGA TOUR Americas, and just the second playoff in Tour history. Korn Ferry Tour member Clay Feagler won the inaugural event over Davis Shore and later secured his Korn Ferry Tour card by finishing in the top 10 of the season-long Fortinet Cup standings (The 10). Last season, nine players who earned Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2025 were tournament winners.

Grider played four seasons at Baylor University (2017-21) and notably spent two of those seasons (2019-21) alongside 2024 Fortinet Cup champion Johnny Keefer. He was also teammates with Korn Ferry Tour member Cooper Dossey for his entire collegiate career. Prior to Baylor, Grider won the 110th Texas Amateur, joining past champions such as Will Zalatoris (2014), Bob Estes (1988), Scott Verplank (1982, 1984, 1985), Ben Crenshaw (1972) and Charles Coody (1959).

Grider is expected to be in the field at the 70th ECP Brazil Open, the second event of the Latin America Swing, which will be hosted at the Rio Olympic Golf Course from April 3-6 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Charting the champion

About Ryan Grider (winner/-16)

• With the win, becomes an exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the remainder of the 2025 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2026; earned 500 points and is No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup
• Earns first career victory at 26 years, 7 months, 18 days
• Wins in his first career playoff (1-0)
• Made his PGA TOUR Americas debut this week; previously made 11 PGA TOUR-sanctioned career starts with three made cuts (best finish: T25/2023 Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited on PGA TOUR Canada)
• Entered the week as a conditional member through his finish at Second Stage of 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry; finished T22, earning himself conditional status for Segment 1 via the Next 10 Finishers at Second Stage category
• Played four seasons at Baylor University (2017-21); played two seasons together with 2024 Fortinet Cup champion Johnny Keefer (2019-21)
• Suffered from an injury in 2019 as a junior that caused him to miss an entire fall season of competition at Baylor
• Winner of the 110th Texas Amateur, joining past champions such as Will Zalatoris (2014), Bob Estes (1988), Scott Verplank (1982, 1984, 1985), Ben Crenshaw (1972) and Charles Coody (1959)

Competition notes

 

Course setup: Par 71 / 6,878 yards; R4 average: 70.31

Weather: Sunny with a high of 89. Wind from the north-northeast at 5-24 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.  

• Second-year member Joey Vrzich (P2/-16) falls to 0-1 in playoffs; establishes a career-high finish (previous: T3/2024 Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club); cards the low round of the day and matches his career-low round in 8-under 63 (other instance: R2/2024 CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center).
• In his first full season as professional, the No. 12 finisher in the 2024 PGA TOUR University Ranking, Michael Brennan (T3/-15), matches his career-best finish (other: T3/2024 Fortinet Cup Championship).
• Conner Godsey (T3/-15), who finished No. 14 in the 2024 Fortinet Cup standings, posts his best finish since the 2024 Diners Club Peru Open (T3).
• Argentine and Korn Ferry Tour member Fabián Gómez (T5/-14) closes in 4-under 67 to lead three Latins in the top 10 and ties: Jorge Fernández Valdés (T10/-12) and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (T10/-12).
• J.M. Butler (T13/-11), who held the lead/co-lead following the second and third rounds, cards 8-over 79 in the final round to fall out of the top 10 after having a five-stroke lead going into Sunday.
• Team Canada members A.J. Ewart (T20/-10) and Thomas Giroux (T35/-6) finish as the low Canadians at the 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich.