LANCASTER, OHIO – The Early Divide: What the Season Standings Reveal After One Event

One event into the 2025 DGA Tour season, the leaderboard is already speaking volumes—and not just about who played well at The View Open. With handicaps still inactive and the tour’s new season beginning to take shape, the standings offer a glimpse into who's separating early, who’s treading water, and who’s dangerously close to needing a miracle stretch just to stay in the hunt.

Contenders or Pretenders?

At the top sits Jack Spence, the only player with a win—and the only one with 65 points. His debut performance was undeniably strong, but it’s what he does next that will define whether this is the start of a title run or a flash in the pan. Spence only had 5 pars at The View, but made up for it with 3 birdies and a playoff-clinching mentality. If he cleans up the mistakes, he might be tough to catch. If not, his early cushion could vanish quickly.

Kyler Messner and Auston Sorg sit close behind at 55 and 50 points, respectively. Kyler’s card was clean—with 9 pars and just one birdie—the kind of steady golf that can carry you week after week. Sorg, on the other hand, was all momentum and muscle, a guy who hadn’t played all year and still landed in a playoff. But the question looms: can he maintain it when handicaps are factored in? And will his free-swinging style hold up under pressure once expectations rise?

The Bubble Tier: Just One Round Away

From Ryan Arter at 40 points to Trevor Monk at 35, there’s a tight mid-pack forming that could shift quickly with one strong outing. Shea McGuire sits fifth after a composed performance and looks like the safest bet to make a jump. With 7 pars and no triple bogeys, his game looks built for consistency—even if the birdies haven’t dropped yet.

Trevor, meanwhile, is in unfamiliar territory: not leading. His 35 points keep him within striking distance, but the reigning champ can’t afford another shaky back nine. No one doubts his ability to climb—yet.

The Chaos Crew: High Ceilings, Low Floors

Three players are tied at 33 points—Will Eyman, Gianni Young, and Mike McGuire—and all three followed a similar storyline: flashes of control followed by flashes of chaos.

Will had a birdie on 16 and two pars—but also three triple bogeys, tied for the most in the field. Gianni was more balanced, cleaning up his back nine after a tough start, and Mike is still adjusting to new clubs. It’s too early to count any of them out, but they’ll need cleaner cards soon before the leaderboard starts to stretch away from them.

Danger Zone: Slipping Early

Rounding out the top 10 is Seth Paszke (29 points), who had a solid front nine but saw things unravel after the turn. A few cleaner holes could easily move him up, but he’s now staring up at nine names already—and that’s before the heavy hitters start getting strokes.

Right behind him is Mike McGuire at 27 points, and once handicaps begin factoring in, he’s likely to be the biggest beneficiary if those new clubs finally click.

A Few Names Missing... for Now

Jamichael Billups, who shot the lowest round of the event, remains ineligible for points until handicaps are established. But everyone on tour knows his presence at the top of the standings is a matter of “when,” not “if.”

And yes, Dylan Sharp is technically still in the league. While his 101 at The View didn’t threaten the leaderboard, it did keep tradition alive: showing up, having fun, and giving everyone else a reason to feel good about their own game. He may not lead in points—but he’s lapping the field in participation trophies.

What’s Next?

With the first event in the books, the standings are far from settled—but early themes are emerging. Some players are showing consistency. Others are swinging hard and praying. And everyone knows the real shake-up begins when handicaps are active.

For now, Spence holds the crown, the contenders are circling, and the 2025 season is off to a thrilling, unpredictable start.