In an impressive performance during the first round of the ISCO Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, Kaimuki High alumnus Chan Kim achieved a career-best score of nine-under-par 61, establishing a four-shot lead. This event marks the inaugural PGA Tour event at Hurstbourne Country Club, which has been held in the Lexington area since 2018.
Kim, a 2006 state high school champion, was off to an electrifying start, making an eagle on the par-4 fourth hole with a 50-degree wedge. Following this, he secured seven birdies from the fifth to the seventeenth holes, including a noteworthy 24-foot birdie putt at the par-3 17th hole. At 35 years old, Kim has yet to win on the PGA Tour, but he has accumulated an impressive ten titles across the Japan Golf Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
Reflecting on his round, Kim expressed satisfaction with the game plan they established for the course, stating, “If we continue to do that and try and basically hit every green, I think we’ll be OK.”
Trailing Kim in a tie for second place at five-under-par 65 are Peter Malnati, Thomas Rosenmueller from Germany, and England’s Callum Shinkwin. Shinkwin enjoyed a bogey-free round and described his focus throughout the game, mentioning, “I didn’t make any mistakes, which is obviously key.”
The experienced Malnati, who owns two PGA Tour victories including a recent win at the Valspar Championship, recorded six birdies, three of which came consecutively from the 14th to the 16th holes. He shared a sentiment of cautious optimism about the competition, saying, “To just be in a position to like feel really good walking off the course after the first round, it’s a good feeling.”
Other notable players at the event include Kevin Kisner, Troy Merritt, Steven Fisk, Spain’s Angel Ayora, and Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar, who are tied at four-under-par 66.
This exciting start from Kim bodes well for his potential in the tournament, showcasing not only his skill but also his tenacity as he looks for his first PGA Tour victory. Fans of golf can eagerly anticipate the upcoming rounds as the competition unfolds.