American Chandler Blanchet produced a scintillating nine-under-par 62 to snatch the clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course.
On a day when testing coastal conditions, heavy rain squalls, and shifting Atlantic gusts challenged the field, Blanchet timed his charge to perfection, edging clear of a packed chasing pack locked on eight-under 63.
Blanchet’s fireworks included two eagles, six birdies, nine pars, and a solitary bogey, securing him a one-stroke cushion heading into Friday's second round.
Before Blanchet’s late surge, a congested group had threatened to share the overnight lead after posting matching rounds of 63.
Morning starters Ben Kohles, Ben Silverman, and Danny Walker set an early blistering pace.
Kohles produced a rollercoaster round, carding a remarkable 11 birdies alongside four pars and three bogeys to reach eight under. In stark contrast, Canada’s Silverman took a clinical, bogey-free route to the clubhouse with eight birdies and ten pars.
American Walker matched the total courtesy of an eagle on the par-five second, combined with six birdies and 11 pars.
As conditions worsened into the afternoon wave, Canadian Corey Conners was the sole player to navigate the wind and rain to match that benchmark, carding eight birdies and ten pars in a flawless 63 of his own.
Bermudian interest centred on local favourites Camiko Smith and Nick Jones, who both battled tough afternoon conditions on the Southampton layout.
Smith kept himself within striking distance of the projected weekend cut, signing for a resilient, even-par round of 71 to finish tied for 90th. His day featured three birdies and 13 pars, though a lone bogey and a costly double bogey kept him from breaking into red figures.
Compatriot Nick Jones opened his tournament one stroke back of Smith, carding a one-over-par 72. Jones tallied three birdies and 12 pars, but two bogeys and a double bogey left him facing an uphill task on Friday morning to reach the weekend rounds.
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