PGA Tour rookie Chandler Blanchet shot a career-low, 8-under-par 64 to take a one stroke lead at the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.
It is quite a turnaround for Blanchet, who had missed the cut in all his first five starts of the season. This is also the first time that he holds a 18-hole lead.
The two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, bogeyed his first hole at Grand Reserve Golf Club, the par-4 10th, only to follow with nine birdies.
Blanchet is ahead of Gordon Sargent, who bogeyed the 18th. Had he made a par, Blanchet would have ended the day atop the leaderboard with Blanchet. Other than the bogey, Sargent had a remarkable round that featured one eagle and six birdies.
Sweden native Jesper Svensson is lying third with a bogey-free 5-under 67, one shy of his best 18-hole score on Tour this season. Canada’s Adam Hadwin highlights a six-way tie at 4-under 68.
Eighteen-year-old Blades Brown is T10 after posting a 3-under 69, marking his 16th round in the 60s in 34 career rounds on Tour.
Another teenager, 17-year-old and two-time AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year Miles Russell (T39/-1) posted a 1-under 71 in the first round.
Making his PGA TOUR debut as a sponsor exemption, John Daly II is tied-21 after carding a 2-under 70.
Meanwhile, at the Chile Classic, a Korn Ferry Tour event, James Nicholas and Caleb Van Arragon are the join leaders. Both golfers carded bogey-free 7-under 64 rounds.
First-Round Leaderboard (Puerto Rico Open)
| Pos. | Player | R1 |
| 1 | Chandler Blanchet | 64 (-8) |
| 2 | Gordon Sargent | 65 (-7) |
| 3 | Jesper Svensson | 67 (-5) |
| T4 | Six Players Tied | 68 (-4) |
Leaderboard Chile Classic
| Pos. | Player | Total |
| T1 | James Nicholas | 64 (-7) |
| Caleb VanArragon | 64 (-7) | |
| T3 | Augusto Núñez | 65 (-6) |
| Austin Hitt | 65 (-6) | |
| Nicolo Galletti | 65 (-6) | |
| Marshall Meisel | 65 (-6) |
