Blanchet's Career-Low 62 Fires Him Into Bermuda Championship Lead

Chandler Blanchet produced the round of his life at Port Royal, firing a career-low 9-under 62 to seize a one-shot lead after the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Thursday. The PGA Tour rookie made two eagles and six birdies against a single bogey in a blistering display. The first eagle came at the par-5 17th, where he holed a putt from just outside 50 feet after his approach drifted right. The second arrived at the par-5 7th, a smooth 5-iron to five feet. He played the three par-5s in 5-under and dropped his only shot at the par-4 4th. It could not have come at a better time. Blanchet began the week 114th in the FedExCup Fall standings, with Bermuda one of five tournaments left in the season and only the top 100 keeping full 2027 status. Thursday's round projects him to 56th. Four players sit one back on 8-under 63. Ben Kohles made 11 birdies, the most in a single Tour round in his career. Corey Conners went bogey-free on his tournament debut to match his season-low round. Danny Walker's 63 is his lowest score in 147 Tour rounds, while Ben Silverman's bogey-free effort is his best of the season in his 130th start. Defending champion Adam Schenk opened with a 4-over 75, while Kevin Yu's adventurous 10 on the par-5 second hole summed up a punishing day for some. Seamus Power, the 2022 winner, is best-placed of the past champions at 5-under.