2025 Fortinet Cup Week 7: Perkins rises to the top
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David Perkins’ win at the Explore NB Open marked his fourth top-10 in seven starts this season on PGA TOUR Americas. (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR)
Written by Gregory Villalobos
Coming off a solid Latin America Swing in which he recorded three top-10s, including a runner-up finish in Peru, David Perkins kicked off the North America Swing with a victory at the Explore NB Open. The 27-year-old from Peoria, Illinois, shot 19-under at Mactaquac Golf Course to outduel final-group partner and 54-hole leader Tripp Kinney.
“I had the nerves out there, I had some shaking going on, I had to control it, but it feels amazing—and to be No. 1 in the points list is obviously huge,” said the Illinois State University alum, who shot 4-under on the back nine in a final round that earned him a one-shot win and brought his season-long point total to 1,022.
As the first player to break the 1,000-point threshold this season, Perkins now holds a 215-point lead over Davis Lamb, who followed his win at the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship with a solid tie for fourth in Fredericton. John Marshall Butler, the Fortinet Cup No. 1 through the Latin America Swing, missed the cut and remained at 735 points, falling to third behind Perkins and Lamb.
Here’s a look at the top 10 players in the Fortinet Cup standings through seven events in the 16-tournament season:
1. David Perkins, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 1,022 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 8th
Best finish this season: Won the Explore NB Open
Two months after a heartbreaking loss at the Diners Club Peru Open—where he led by two shots with two holes to play—Perkins found redemption in Fredericton. His Explore NB Open win marked his fourth top-10 in seven starts. He currently ranks second on Tour in both scoring average (68.18) and birdie average (5.09).
2. Davis Lamb, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 807 (6 starts)
Last week’s rank: 2nd
Best finish: Won the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship
Coming off a win in Colombia, Lamb stayed in contention in Fredericton on his way to a tie for fourth finish. It was his third top-10 in his last four starts. He now owns the best scoring average on Tour (68.14).
3. John Marshall Butler, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 735 (6 starts)
Last week’s rank: 1st
Best finish: Won the Bupa Championship
After entering the North America Swing atop the standings, Butler had a slow week in Fredericton. He followed a bogey-free opening 69 with a 71 to miss the cut by two shots and drop to third in the standings.
4. Hunter Wolcott, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 645 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 3rd
Best finish: Won the Diners Club Peru Open
Wolcott, who edged Perkins in Peru, was in the mix at the halfway point in Fredericton—just two shots off the lead after a second-round 64. But a third-round 73 followed by a 70 saw him slide to a tie for 34th.
5. Ryan Grider, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 618 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 4th
Best finish: Won the Abierto Telecom del Centro
At 4-under in a week that demanded low scores, Grider had to settle for a tie for 61st, earning only 4.4 points.
6. Michael Brennan, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 605 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 7th
Best finishes: T3 in Córdoba, T3 in Mexico, T4 in Brazil
With a tie for ninth at the Explore NB Open, the Wake Forest alum now has a Tour-leading five top-10s in seven starts. He leads the Tour in total birdies (116), eagles (9), and rounds in the 60s (18), among other categories.
7. Maxwell Moldovan, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 586 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 5th
Best finish: Won the ECP Brazil Open
After making his fourth U.S. Open start last month, Moldovan began the week in England, attempting to qualify for the 153rd Open Championship. A 36-hole total of 3-under on Tuesday left him one shot short of a spot at Royal Portrush. He then traveled to Fredericton, where he posted rounds of 72–71 and missed the cut.
8. Jay Card III, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 584 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 6th
Best finish: Won the Kia Open
The winner of the 101st Long Island Open during the June break, Card couldn’t find his rhythm in Fredericton, shooting 70–72 to miss the cut.
9. Vicente Marzilio, Argentina
Fortinet Cup Points: 452 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 9th
Best finishes: Runner-up in Mexico, T4 in Ecuador
His first week in Canada was a slow one, with rounds of 69-73 to finish far behind the cut line. It was only his second missed cut in seven starts this season.
10. Joey Vrzich, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 456 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 12th
Best finish: Runner-up in Argentina
Despite struggling to feel comfortable with his swing this season, Vrzich hasn’t ranked lower than 12th in the standings. His tie for ninth in Fredericton was his second top-10 of the year, adding to a season that began with a playoff loss at the Abierto Telecom del Centro in Argentina.
Best moves outside the top 10:
14. Tripp Kinney, United States
Fortinet Cup Points: 412 (7 starts)
Last week’s rank: 47th
Best finish: Runner-up at the Explore NB Open
18. Drew Nesbitt, Canada
Fortinet Cup Points: 311 (4 starts)
Last week’s rank: 44th
Best finish: Solo third at the Explore NB Open
Next Stop:
The race for the Fortinet Cup continues this week with the Bromont Open presented by Desjardins (July 10–13) at Golf Château-Bromont in Bromont, Quebec.