Chandler Blanchet Fires 62 To Grab Bermuda Championship Lead

Chandler Blanchet couldn't have picked a better time to produce his lowest round of the season. With his PGA Tour future hanging in the balance, the 30-year-old delivered a spectacular 9-under 62 Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Blanchet made two eagles and six birdies at Port Royal Golf Course, building a one-shot advantage over Ben Kohles, Corey Conners, Danny Walker and Ben Silverman, who each opened with 63.

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And with only four FedExCup Fall tournaments remaining after Bermuda, the timing couldn't be more important.

Blanchet entered the week 114th in the FedExCup Fall standings, outside the top 100 needed to retain full PGA Tour status for 2027.

Thursday's performance certainly strengthened his chances.

His most dramatic moment came at the par-5 17th, where he converted an eagle putt from more than 50 feet after leaving his approach well right of the hole.

"Just dripped in on the last revolution," Blanchet said.

He added another eagle at the par-5 seventh, taking advantage of calmer conditions to hit a 5-iron approach within five feet.

"That was sweet," Blanchet said.

His only bogey came at the fourth hole, his 13th of the round, when an errant approach left him scrambling.

Blanchet wasn't the only player taking advantage of unusually manageable conditions.

Kohles caught fire with six consecutive birdies, the longest such streak of his PGA Tour career. The 34-year-old has already climbed to 80th in the FedExCup Fall standings and can now focus on moving into the top 60, which would earn access to two lucrative Signature Events next season.

"Just feel like I'm just kind of freewheeling," Kohles said.

Conners, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 61, also benefited from relatively forgiving weather.

"The conditions were amazing," Conners said.

Mackenzie Hughes and Emiliano Grillo were among the players opening with 64, just two strokes off the pace.

Port Royal, typically one of the PGA Tour's most wind-exposed venues, played considerably easier than expected Thursday. The field averaged approximately 68.5 strokes on the par-71 layout.

But Bermuda weather can change quickly, and three rounds remain.

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For Blanchet, the immediate challenge is turning one brilliant Thursday into something considerably more valuable: a career-changing victory and the security of another PGA Tour season.

He's off to quite a start.