Journeyman Chan Kim Explodes with Career-Low 61 to Lead ISCO Championship

Louisville, Kentucky, USA – In a spectacular opening round at the ISCO Championship, golf journeyman Chan Kim fired a career-low, 9-under-par 61, establishing a commanding four-shot lead on Thursday. The tournament, an alternate event on the PGA Tour, is making its debut at Hurstbourne Country Club.

Kim’s Dominant Start at a New Venue

Chan Kim, 35, who has yet to secure a PGA Tour victory but boasts 10 professional titles from the Japan Golf Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, quickly found his stride at the new course. His exceptional round was jumpstarted by an eagle on the par-4 fourth hole, where he holed out with a 50-degree wedge. This early boost propelled him to collect seven additional birdies between holes 5 and 17, highlighted by a 24-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.

The Chasing Pack

A significant four-shot gap separates Kim from the trio tied for second place at 5-under 65: American Peter Malnati, Germany’s Thomas Rosenmueller, and England’s Callum Shinkwin.

Callum Shinkwin (England): The 32-year-old had a bogey-free round, marked by an impressive hole-out on his third hole, the par-4 12th. Shinkwin has two wins on the European Tour but is seeking his maiden PGA Tour triumph.
Peter Malnati (USA): At 38, Malnati is the most experienced player near the top of the leaderboard, with two PGA Tour victories to his name, including the Valspar Championship just last year. He recorded six birdies on Thursday, with a notable streak of three consecutive birdies from holes 14 through 16. Malnati acknowledged the tour’s competitiveness, stating, “obviously you can’t win a tournament on a Thursday… But to just be in a position to like feel really good walking off the course after the first round, it’s a good feeling.”
Thomas Rosenmueller (Germany): Rosenmueller’s strong performance positions him well for the remainder of the tournament.

Other Notable Scorers

A group of five players are tied at 4-under 66, including: