Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Tournament

TEG 18 - Round 1 Report

Alex Baker Survives Early Disaster to Seize Opening-Day Lead

PGA Catalunya - Tour • October 11, 2025 • Round 1 of 4

Round Summary

The opening round of TEG 18 delivered the kind of drama that makes the Trophy competition unpredictable—disasters, comebacks, and a leaderboard that transformed hole by hole. Alex Baker emerged from the chaos to claim both the round victory (46 points) and the TEG Trophy lead, building a commanding 12-point advantage despite a nightmarish start. His older brother Jon Baker won the day’s gross competition with 24 over par, seizing the Green Jacket lead in a steadier performance. But the round’s most compelling story belonged to John Patterson, who authored one of the most dramatic turnarounds in TEG history—recovering from a front-nine disaster (10 points, 22 strokes) to post 24 points on the back nine and vault from fifth to second place.

The Tour course at PGA Catalunya showed its teeth early, particularly at the par-5 seventh, which averaged 2.6 strokes over par and claimed multiple victims. Alex Baker’s quadruple bogey at the par-3 second and triple at the fourth left him scrambling, while Patterson’s front nine featured six separate blow-ups. Yet the back nine offered redemption: Baker’s dominant stretch from holes 10-15 (21 points) established his authority, while Patterson’s back-nine resurrection (14-point improvement) kept the Trophy race alive heading into Round 2.

How It Unfolded

Early Chaos

The round opened with Gregg Williams claiming the early Jacket lead with a par at the first, while David Mullin immediately hit rock bottom with a triple bogey. But the second hole delivered the day’s first seismic shock: Alex Baker, the pre-round favorite, posted a quadruple bogey on the par-3, collecting zero points and tumbling from first to fourth in the Trophy standings. The carnage continued at the third, where Williams carded a triple, Jon Baker posted a triple of his own, and Patterson’s quadruple bogey hinted at the front-nine nightmare to come. Another triple for Alex Baker at the fourth compounded his misery, leaving him six holes into a disastrous opening stretch that would average 2.33 strokes over par through the seventh.

The par-5 seventh proved the round’s monster hole, averaging 2.6 over par across the field. Williams absorbed a quadruple bogey that effectively ended his Trophy chances, while Jon Baker’s steadier play through this stretch allowed him to claim the Jacket lead at the fifth. Through nine holes, the leaderboard was in chaos: Alex Baker had clawed back to contention in the Trophy despite his early disasters, but Patterson’s front-nine collapse (10 points, including six blow-ups) had seemingly buried his chances.

Back Nine Resurrection

Everything changed after the turn. Alex Baker’s hot spell ignited at the par-5 tenth, where four points sparked back-to-back strong holes (another four points at the par-3 eleventh). This stretch marked the beginning of a dominant 21-point performance from holes 10-15 that would define his round and establish a commanding lead. The younger Baker brother was relentless, adding another exceptional run through holes 14-16 (13 points) that left his competitors chasing shadows.

But Patterson’s back-nine performance deserves its own chapter in TEG folklore. Starting at the par-4 thirteenth with four points, he embarked on an 18-point surge from holes 10-15 that mirrored Alex Baker’s dominance. His 24-point back nine—a 14-point improvement from his front-nine disaster—represented one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Trophy history, rocketing him from fifth to second place and keeping the tournament competitive.

Jon Baker’s Jacket lead remained secure despite a rough stretch from holes 7-9 (averaging 2.33 over par), his consistency contrasting with the volatility around him. Williams and Mullin, both plagued by multiple disasters, faded to fourth and third respectively in the Trophy, their promising moments erased by catastrophic holes.

Standings After Round 1

Round 1 Stableford: AB 46 | JPa 34 | DM 32 | GW 31 | JB 30 Round 1 Gross: JB +24 | AB +26 | GW +27 | DM +28 | JPa +30

Tournament Stableford: AB 46 | JPa 34 | DM 32 | GW 31 | JB 30 Tournament Gross: JB +24 | AB +26 | GW +27 | DM +28 | JPa +30

What’s At Stake

With 3 rounds remaining:

Alex Baker’s 12-point lead in the Trophy is substantial but far from insurmountable over 54 holes. His 46-point performance—the third-best round in his 45-round TEG history—establishes a strong foundation, but Patterson’s spectacular back-nine recovery serves as a reminder that double-digit deficits can evaporate quickly on this course. Baker needs to average roughly 34 points per round to stay ahead of a field averaging 32, while Patterson needs to find 4 additional points per round to catch him—a challenging but achievable target given his back-nine form.

The cluster of players from second through fifth (separated by just four points) ensures the Trophy race remains wide open. Patterson will look to build on his back-nine momentum, while Jon Baker’s fifth-place position (16 points back) is deceptive—his Jacket-leading consistency suggests he could mount a sustained challenge if he adds aggression to his steady play. Williams and Mullin, both within 15 points, remain mathematically alive but need to eliminate the blow-ups that plagued their opening rounds.

In the Green Jacket competition, Jon Baker’s two-stroke lead over his younger brother sets up a compelling sibling rivalry. With gaps of just 3-6 strokes separating the top five, the gross standings remain compressed. The real question is whether anyone can match Jon Baker’s steadiness while the Trophy leaders attack more aggressively—the dual competition creates fascinating strategic tensions that will define the next three rounds.

Round Highlights

  • Alex Baker’s quadruple bogey at the par-3 second, posting zero points and dropping to fourth—then mounting a 46-point round anyway
  • John Patterson’s epic turnaround: 10 points on the front nine, 24 on the back nine (14-point swing)
  • Alex Baker’s dominant 21-point stretch from holes 10-15, establishing command of the Trophy
  • The par-5 seventh averaging 2.6 over par, claiming Gregg Williams with a quadruple bogey
  • Jon Baker’s steady gross performance (24 over par) earning the opening-round Jacket lead

Player Summaries

Alex Baker: Survived a disastrous start (quadruple at the second, triple at the fourth) to win the round with 46 points, his third-best performance in 45 TEG rounds. Dominated the back nine with 27 points, including a spectacular 21-point stretch from holes 10-15. Leads the Trophy by 12 points but sits second in the Jacket (two strokes behind Jon).

John Patterson: Authored one of TEG’s great comebacks, recovering from a catastrophic front nine (10 points, six blow-ups) to post 24 points on the back nine. His 18-point surge from holes 10-15 vaulted him from fifth to second in the Trophy (12 points back). Sits fifth in the Jacket, six strokes behind the leader.

David Mullin: Struggled to find rhythm after opening with a triple bogey, recording five zero-point holes throughout the round. His 32 points leave him third in the Trophy (14 points back) and fourth in the Jacket (four strokes behind). Needs to eliminate blow-ups to challenge.

Gregg Williams: Early promise evaporated with front-nine disasters, including triples at the third and fourth and a catastrophic quadruple at the par-5 seventh. Rallied on the back nine (18 points) but the damage was done. Fourth in the Trophy (15 points back), third in the Jacket (three strokes behind).

Jon Baker: Won the gross competition with 24 over par, leading the Green Jacket after a consistent round that featured only one major blow-up (triple at the ninth). His steadiness contrasts with the volatility around him, but his 30 points leave him fifth in the Trophy, 16 points behind Alex. His Jacket lead is just two strokes over his younger brother.